Police files charge sheet in businessman's murder case

A charge sheet was today filed in connection with the murder of businessman Paul Muthoot George, which named 25 persons as accused -- most of them members of a criminal gang.

The Special Investigation Team filed the 124-page charge sheet before First Class Judicial Magistrate Court at Ramankari near here. The charge sheet listed as the first accused Jayachandran, head of the gang, and Kari Satheesh who allegedly fatally stabbed Paul, as the second accused.

Omprakash and Putenpalam Rajesh, alleged criminals, who had travelled with Paul in his car on the day he was murdered, were listed as the 24th and 25th accused. The first three accused have been slapped with charge of murder (IPC 302), and others on different counts including destruction of evidence.

Paul (32), executive director of Muthoot Group (Hospitality Management) was found murdered at Pallathurithy on Changanassery-Alappuzha road on August 21. The police version was that the gang, used for carrying out criminal operations for money, was on its way to Alappuzha when they came face-to-face with Paul. On a sudden provocation following heated exchange between them, a gang member stabbed Paul to death.