Mithila Mohan murder case: HC orders CBI probe

The abkari contractor was shot dead at his residence in Vennala by an unidentified person on April 5, 2006.

Santhosh Kumar (left), first accused in the Mithila Mohan murder case. (FILE) Photo: H. Vibhu

The Kerala High Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into the Mithila Mohan murder case.

The court ordered the CBI to constitute a special team and conduct an investigation in the case as expeditiously as possible. The court also directed the State government to provide all help to the CBI.

The court issued the order while allowing a writ petition filed by M. Maneesh, son of Mohan, seeking a CBI probe into the over 11-year-old murder case.

Mithila Mohan, an abkari contractor, was shot dead at his residence at Vennala by an unidentified person on April 5, 2006. According to the police, when the daughter-in-law of Mohan, on answering the door bell, opened the window of his home, an unknown person enquired about Mohan. When Mohan came out, the unidentified man shot at him and escaped from the scene. Mohan died while being taken to hospital.

First accused

The police case was that the first accused, Santhosh Kumar, had hired goons to murder Mithila Mohan due to the business rivalry existing between them. According to the police, Santhosh Kumar had given a statement that he had hatched a criminal conspiracy with Pandyan, second accused, for liquidating Mohan. The murder was executed by Mathivannan and Uppali.

The Crime Branch had submitted before the court that it strongly suspected that the two accused who were yet to be traced belonged to Sri Lanka. The Crime Branch said the accused Mathivanan had told Sathosh Kumar that he and Uppali belong to Vedaranyam Light House in Nagapatanam district.

It would take only 20 minutes to reach Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka from Kodiyekkara by speed boat. The Crime Branch had pointed out that in 2006, one Mohan, alias ‘Ceylon’ Mohan, was active in the Pandyan gang. Mohan belonged to Sri Lanka. Hence there was every chance of Pandyan arranging the accused from Sri Lanka through Ceylon Mohan. Later, Ceylon Mohan was killed by C.D. Mani, a known criminal in Tamil Nadu, under the jurisdiction of the Valaja police station in Vellore district.

The investigation team found it very difficulty to complete the probe successfully, the Crime Branch had submitted.