Kottayam: A court here has cancelled the bail granted to two accused in the sensational Kevin murder case for allegedly assaulting a witness who refused to change his statements.
The 37th witness, Punalur native Rajesh, gave a statement in court that he was assaulted by sixth accused Manu Muraleedharan and 13th accused Shinu Nasar. The court then cancelled their bail order and remanded them in custody.
The police have also arrested Punalur native Robin, 29, and Shajahan, 27, of Piravanthoor. They have been remanded in custody by the Punalur magistrate court.
Kottayam youth Kevin P Joseph was kidnapped and killed by a gang allegedly engaged by his fiancee’s relatives in May 2018. It was said to be a case of honour killing.
Rajesh had given statement that one of the accused had told him about the kidnapping of Kevin and his kin.
Rajesh had also identified accused Vishnu, Shanu, Nishad, Tittu, Remis, Shinu, Shefin and Fazal Sharif.
Rajesh is a friend of the 11th accused Fazal Sharif.
He was on his way to Kottayam to give his statement in court on Sunday night, when Manu Muraleedharan and Shinu Nazar along with the two others apprehended him. When he refused to change his statement, they assaulted him. The prosecution then demanded that their bail order be cancelled.
The court cancelled their bail pleas on Monday afternoon. The police would also slap charges for assaulting the witness on them.
While cancelling the bail order, the court said that the accused trying to influence, threaten or assault the witness would hamper the complete trial into the case.
The court also said the accused misused the bail and violated its conditions.
Seven of the 14 accused have been remanded in custody ever since their arrest. Their bail pleas were submitted in Supreme Court as well.
The then Kottayam tehsildar B Ashok Kumar who had given caste certificate to Kevin also gave a statement in court on Monday.
