In a fresh twist to the Chandrabose murder case, the accused Mohammed Nisham filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Friday seeking transfer of his trial to a different state.
The beedi tycoon from Thrissur is learnt to have complained about the harsh treatment meted out by Kerala police saying that he has been subjected to custodial torture. He had also mentioned in the complaint that witnesses were tortured by prosecution.
However, the advocate representing the government of Kerala was not present in court when he made this demand.
Considering the petition SC asked Kerala government where the advocate is. State government has clarified that the prosecution did not receive the notice.
However Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had sought explanation from Home Secretary in the issue.
On January 29, 2015, Nisham had allegedly run over security guard Chandrabose with his Hummer vehicle when the latter failed to open the gate promptly. Chandrabose died on February 16 in a private hospital after he was admitted with major injuries.
Earlier, the court had declared a few witnesses hostile in the case in October, with the charge sheet running into 500 pages containing statements of 108 people, including 11 eyewitnesses. It was submitted to the Kunnamkulam Magistrate court in Thrissur.
The case was later transferred to Thrissur District sessions court after the submission of the charge sheet.