Accused escapes, hunt on

A hunt is on for the key accused in a narcotics case who escaped from Excise custody in Bengaluru where he was taken as part of collecting evidence.

The accused, George Kutty, escaped in the Majestic area. An investigation has been launched into the incident. George Kutty was arrested in June by a special excise squad with 20 kg of hashish oil worth ₹20 crore and 2.5 kg of ganja from a car at Vazhamuttom on the NH 66 bypass in Thiruvananthapuram.

The narcotics were hidden in a special compartment in the car, which had also been seized by the Excise. George Kutty, who lived in Bengaluru, had been accused of procuring the banned substances from Andhra Pradesh, and transporting them to Kerala from Bengaluru.

The Bengaluru police said a case had been registered in the Cotton Pet police station in the city. “We have launched a massive search for the accused. The neighbouring States have been alerted and his photographs have been shared,” said Ramesh Bannoth, Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Division.