Local goons likely hinted Mumbai don's link to scare Leena Maria

Kochi: The police team investigating the airgun shooting at a beauty parlour in Kadavanthara suspects a local script behind the drama. It is suspected that local goons might have made a bid to squeeze out money from the salon owner by creating a smoke screen in the name of the underworld. A note left behind by the assailants after the Saturday afternoon attack with the name of Mumbai underworld don Ravi Poojari could have been written by a Malayali, the special investigation team (SIT) doubted.

The SIT's conclusion is that the Hindi letters are written in a style in which Malayalis write Hindi. Expert opinion will be sought from graphologists. The police think the Hindi letters denoting 'ra', 'va, 'pa', and 'ja' have been written in a style different from by those whose mother tongue is Hindi.

Hawala links

The SIT has clues that a dispute over the distribution of a huge amount of hawala money that reached Kochi a few days before the attack could have prompted the crime drama.

Central agencies had reported that hawala transactions focused in Kochi have multiplied in the recent past.

Investigators have gathered information that criminals linked to Ravi Poojari are assisting hawala operator Sukesh Chandrasekhar who is in a Delhi jail. The police suspect that disputes could have cropped up between two gangs linked to both these men.

Sukesh is a close friend of actress Leena Maria Paul, who owns the salon.

Dhinakaran aide

Sukash was earlier arrested in an alleged bid to bribe the officials of the Election Commission (EC) of India on behalf of the main accused and AIADMK rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran. Dhinakaran has been charged with attempting to bribe EC officials to obtain the ADMK's 'two leaves' symbol for his faction and offering Rs 50 crore. The money transaction was set in Kochi using Sukesh's hawala track.

The SIT has information that Sukesh and Leena had met in Kochi when he was brought to the city for evidence-gathering in that case.

Leena's statement recorded

The SIT, formed by City Police Commissioner M P Dinesh, recorded the statement of Leena Maria Paul on Monday. The team, led by officer Siby Tom, met her at her house in the city. She had arrived from Hyderabad as per a police summons and the police know her statement is key to the probe.

Leena has reportedly sought legal opinion for anticipatory bail. She had earlier told the police that she was facing threat from outside the state. Her statement could give clues as to whether the Mumbai underworld is involved.

Dry run

Indications are available that the assailants had carried out a rehearsal a day before the attack on the 31-year-old actor's salon at Kadavanthra. CCTV cameras have helped the SIT reach the conclusion that the two had visited the premises the previous night.

The usual direction of one of the cameras placed in front of the fish stall in the same building was found changed. The SIT has collected fingerprints from the camera.

The police have recovered a metal piece from the location of the crime, but Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner P P Shams who supervises the probe said it has not been confirmed whether this is a pellet fired from the airgun used by the assailants. Forensic experts are examining it.

The SIT say there is no further information on the two assailants who arrived on a bike and fired at the parlour.

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