Thiruvananthapuram: DySP Harikumar, who is on the run after being booked for murder after he allegedly pushed Neyyanttinkara native S Sanalkumar to his death, is likely to surrender soon.

According to sources, the special branch has come to know that people close to the DySP have contacted some leaders of the ruling party and a district leader of the police officers' association.

Harikumar was stumped by district principal sessions court move to postpone his anticipatory bail plea hearing to November 14. The decision to surrender could have been forced by the fact that it is pretty difficult to avoid arrest for so long without the explicit help of the police.

Crime branch SP K M Antony's team, which has taken over the probe, is continuing extensive searches at the houses of his relatives and friends. Quarry owners who could have given shelter to the accused are also under watch.

People close to the accused are afraid that if Harikumar is remanded to custody in Neyyanttinkara jail on his surrender, there are several officers who are against him in the jail who could jeopardise the case. Hence, the plan could be to surrender at Kollam jail. The investigation team has been told to arrest the accused before he surrenders. It is believed that the accused is hiding in Tamil Nadu.

Lone accused

At present, Harikumar is the lone accused in the case. He has been charged with murder under Section 302 of IPC. The driver of the car that hit Sanal when he was pushed by Harikumar is likely to be made a witness in the case, the police said.

The decision to name cops who failed to take Sanal to hospital immediately as accused in the case will be taken only after the arrest of the DySP. Range IG Manoj Abraham said that the accused's service revolver is in the police station itself.

After the incident, when Harikumar escaped along with friend Binu, he had contacted the district leader of the police officers' association more than once before he switched off his mobile phones, according to information received by the special branch.

This leader had spoken to a police officer at the Medical College police station several times. When Sanal’s death was confirmed by the hospital, it was the leader who informed Harikumar about the same, it is believed.

Harikumar then informed rural SP Ashok Kumar that he is staying away, switched off his mobile phones and went into hiding.