First arrest in ex-RJ murder recorded

The police have achieved a breakthrough in the murder of former radio jockey (RJ) Rajesh by recording the first arrest in the case on Thursday.

The investigation team arrested Sanu, 33, of Vallikeezhu, Kollam, on conspiracy charges and for allegedly harbouring the assailants in the case. It was in the house of the accused, who is a private bus conductor, that the gang had allegedly hatched the conspiracy to commit the crime.

According to Attingal Dy.SP P. Anilkumar, the accused had been taken into custody for questioning soon after the murder on March 27. He was again taken into custody on Wednesday and the arrest was recorded on Thursday.

Sanu was allegedly a close friend of Appunni, one of the accused. The alleged perpetrators, including the prime suspect Salih Bin Jalal, alias Ali Bhai, of Oachira, is believed to have got together at Sanu’s house under the pretext of a get-together of members of a WhatsApp group. “They had decided against checking into a lodge or hotel as they needed to submit their identity particulars,” the official said. The police have recovered two swords from his house, but were yet to ascertain whether they were used in the crime.

Murder charges too

The officer said that Sanu was liable to be booked for all charges as that of the actual offenders, including murder, despite not being part of the assailants’ gang.

Meanwhile, the investigation team firmly believe that though the prime suspect has fled the country, the other members of the ‘quotation gang’ are still in the country.

The police are likely to seek Interpol’s assistance in apprehending Ali Bhai as well as the Qatar-based businessman who is suspected to have hired the gang.