Thiruvananthapuram: Interpol issues red notice against Sanal Edamaruku

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Interpol has issued a ‘red notice’ against rationalist Sanal Edamaruku, currently settled in Finland, in connection with a case related to duping Rs 15 lakh from a government employee after offering her Finland visa for educational purpose and permanent residency.
IG (crimes) S Sreejith, who is also the nodal officer of International Investigation Coordination Wing of the state police, confirmed receiving a report in this regard from the Interpol authorities in Delhi.
The case is that Edamaruku, hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, offered the complainant, Prameela Devi, a visa to Finland for educational purpose, a job with high salary and permanent residential permit in Finland. He accepted a total of Rs 15.75 lakh in instalments from her during 2015 to 2016. Edamaruku neither kept his promise nor refunded the money; he blocked Prameela’s number also.
After receiving Prameela’s complaint, a case was registered by Alappuzha police. The investigation was completed and chargesheet was filed in February 2018. Though the court issued an arrest warrant in his name, the order could not be executed as he was not in the country. The authorities concerned then proceeded for an extradition.
Edamaruku, renowned rationalist and founder of the organisation, Rationalist International, had taken refuge in Finland in 2012 after exposing the miracle of an idol of Jesus that produced water droplets through its toes in a church in Mumbai. Edamaruku, who was challenged to expose the feat, found out that the water came from toilet pipes behind the wall on which the idol was fixed. The believers, however, accused him of insulting the church and filed multiple blasphemy cases, following which he had to flee the country.
Devi said she herself was a rationalist and met him during several events organised by rationalists.