Muthoot scion's murder stalls Kerala assembly

George, 32, was killed Aug 21 midnight near Alappuzha while he was travelling with two men, Om Prakash and P. Rajesh, both of whom had criminal records. The police have since arrested K. Satish, who the police claim stabbed George, and 18 others for their role in the crime.

Opposition leaders marched towards the speaker's podium after Speaker K. Radhakrishnan denied permission for an adjournment motion moved by Congress legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

Radhakrishnan pointed out that a TV channel had Monday night reported that a blacksmith called Prasad in Alappuzha had made a knife as per the directions of investigating officer K.A. Thomas. And it was this knife that the police say Satish used to kill George.

"Inspector General of Police Vinson M. Paul a few days after the murder said at a press conference that a person called Satish had used a particular type of S-shaped knife to stab George. The blacksmith has now told a TV channel that Thomas had approached him to make a similar type of knife hours after Paul described the kind of knife used in the killing," the Congress leader said.

Satish's mother Vilasini has also alleged that her son is being framed by the police. She said the police had made Satish place a bundle containing a knife that they say was used in George's murder. She has now moved court, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident.

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have cried foul over the manner in which the case is being investigated and have alleged that police are under duress because of the alleged links between Balakrishnan's son Bineesh Kodiyeri and Om Prakash and P. Rajesh, who are now absconding.

Balakrishnan has, however, constantly denied allegations that his son was involved in George's murder and said the government has "nothing to hide" in the case. "We have nothing to hide in this case and it was our government that issued the look-out notice to nab both Om Prakash and Rajesh. If we have anything to hide or want to shield these people, will we issue a look-out notice? I have asked a top police official to investigate into the revelation made by the TV channel," said Balakrishnan.

But leader of opposition Oommen Chandy once again accused the government of shielding the two accused. "How can an investigating officer conclude without arresting the two who are on the run? Unless these two are arrested no one will know the truth. Satish's mother has alleged that her son is being framed by the police. Everything in this case is a mystery," Chandy said.

With the opposition shouting slogans, the speaker adjourned the house for the day.
At the same time, senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator P. Jayarajan said George too didn't have a clean record.

"George was arrested a few years back in a drug case and he came out after paying crores of money as bribe. Right now the investigation is going in the right direction, but the opposition and a section of the media is trying to scuttle this fair probe to hide certain things and the story about the blacksmith is a concocted one," said Jayarajan.