The Kevin murder case has shocked Kerala, and exposed a possible nexus between a policeman and the accused. Investigation into the case has now revealed that the Kottayam SP, Mohammed Rafeeq, who was suspended for allegedly trying to hush up the case, might also have misguided Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
According to sources, when Manorama News started reporting on Sunday that the police had not acted on the missing complaint filed by Kevin’s family, the CM was in Kottayam. He reportedly summoned the SP and asked him about the investigation – and Rafeeq told the CM that a DySP has been entrusted with the investigation. This however was not true.
This was confirmed by the former SP himself. Speaking to the media on Friday, he said, "The CM asked me about Kevin on Sunday evening (Kevin was kidnapped on the wee hours of Sunday morning). But none of my juniors told me the details. I did not know what was happening. I told the CM I will take care of it.'
However, the police had not done anything to act on the complaint by then. In fact, the police had asked Kevin’s family members to wait as they were busy arranging security for the CM who was there in Kottayam to attend a function at the Medical College.
Moreover, a leaked audio conversation between the Assistant Sub Inspector of Gandhinagar police station and the main accused Shanu showed that the policeman was aware of the kidnap and was in touch with the culprits. In the phone conversation, he can be heard promising help to the accused.
The CM’s office declined to comment on the reports.
On Monday morning, Kevin was found dead; the Dalit Christian man was allegedly murdered by his newly wed wife’s family.
Mohammed Rafeeq was transferred immediately after Kevin was found dead, for lapses in monitoring the case. He was replaced with Police Headquarters AIG Hari Sankar.
He vehemently denied reports, which alleged that he was related to the mother of the bride.
A team led by Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakare is investigating the case. Neenu’s brother Shanu Chacko and father Chacko are the first and 14th accused in the case and have surrendered to the police.
“A police team is investigating the lapses of the police in the case and hence the additional sub inspector and driver of the police vehicle have been arrested. They may also investigate the involvement of Mohammed Rafeeq. But about the CM being misguided, we can’t comment,” police sources said.
Two policemen were taken into custody for not only covering up the crime, but also allegedly helping the accused carry out the crime. The investigators confirmed that ASI of the Gandhi Nagar police station, Biju and driver of the police vehicle, Ajay Kumar, took a bribe from Shanu Chacko.
Biju and Ajay were part of the police patrolling team that found Shanu and others traveling to Mannanam to abduct Kevin; although they suspected them, they let them go after taking a bribe. Following this, the group – who came in three vehicles – abducted Kevin and his relative Aneesh from his mother’s maternal home in Mannanam.