Ker Govt opposes plea for CBI probe into Muthoot scion murder

The Kerala government today informed the high court that it had an 'open mind' on the investigation of the murder of Muthoot group of companies scion Paul Muthoot George but opposed a CBI probe.

This submission was made by director general of prosecutions VS Govindan Nair when a petition by Muthoot Group chairman MG George Muthoot seeking CBI probe into his son's murder came up before Justice M Sasidharan Nambiar.

Opposing the plea, Nair submitted the probe was nearing final stages and police was prepared to look into further information given by the petitioner. "The state has no prejudice and has an open mind in the matter of investigation. However, the state is not in favour of CBI investigation."

Nambiar then directed the matter to be placed before chief justice SR Bannurmath.

Earlier, a similar prayer had come up before a division bench but the PIL was later withdrawn. In such circumstances, propriety demands that the matter be heard by a Division Bench, Justice Namibar said.
 
Unhappy with the police probe, George Muthoot had moved the high court seeking a CBI probe into Paul's murder on August 21 and investigation into political and inter-state connections of prime suspects in the case.
 
"The investigation so far was replete with several imponderables and incongruities with fingers being pointed towards politically influential persons," he submitted.