Click to play videoThiruvananthapuram: Two weeks ago, the Kerala Police claimed to have cracked the high profile murder of businessman Paul Muthoot. Now, a sting operation by a local channel claiming that the murder weapon was planted by the state police is raising many questions.
The sting operation by Asianet News - done in a blacksmith's shop in Alapuzha - shows that the knife the police claim was used to stab Paul Muthoot was perhaps fudged as evidence by the police themselves.
The same night the police IG held a press meet, his own personnel are alleged to have asked a blacksmith to make an S-shaped knife. The knife was later recovered from the prime accused's house.
"Yes, Thomas sir ordered this be made. See, initially I told them I don't have time, but then he came to my house and asked me to do it. I was also given money and when it was finished someone else came to take it away," the blacksmith said.
Meanwhile two gang leaders, Om Prakash and Puthenpalam Rajesh, who are believed to have travelled with Paul Muthoot on the night of the murder have surrendered before the Tirunelveli sessions court in connection with another case. The Kerala Police had issued look-out notice for both of them.
These gang leaders are allegedly close to political leaders of the ruling party.
The surrender of the two gang leaders will certainly help the police in tying up a number of loose ends in this case, but the big question is: do the state police and the state home minister really want to nab the real killers of Paul or will it be a cover-up operation?
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