The police said in an affidavit filed before the high court that the scion of the Muthoot business group was very close to gangster Om Prakash who was with him during the incident and that a couple of Iranian girls had also stayed with the duo. The investigation was foolproof and the police had no objection to any agency taking over the investigation, the police told the court.

The police affidavit said Paul knew Om Prakash for “a very long time’’ and were together from August 7 staying in an apartment in Kochi, holiday resort in Munnar and a houseboat on Alappuzha backwaters. The girls also stayed with them at all the three family-owned properties before leaving them. The last call Paul received on his mobile phone was from the Iranian girl identified as Sarah who used to call him frequently.

Paul George was murdered by a gang at a deserted place near Alappuzha town in the wee hours of August 23 midnight while travelling with two gangsters — Om Prakash and Puthanpalam Rajesh.

Two days later, a senior police official held a press conference claiming that Paul, one of the executive directors of the group, had a quarrel with a drunken gang which ended up in the brutal killing. The gang belonging to Changanassery in Kottayam has been in jail ever since.

 Last month, Paul’s father M G George moved the court expressing doubts over the investigation and demanding that the case be handed over to CBI. He wanted that “all aspects, including political and inter-state connections” of the prime suspects be investigated. He had alleged that the police theory was unbelievable and “seems to be a deliberate attempt to shield the real murderers”.