Thiruvananthapuram: The Crime Branch team probing the death of noted violinist Balabhaskar would take the statements of his former programme coordinator Prakash Thambi, who was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for gold smuggling via Thiruvananthapuram airport.
The officers would give custody request for Thamby in court on Monday.
The Crime Branch intensified their probe into the violinist's death in a car accident in September 2018 after Prakash's arrest last month.
The officers would also take the statements of Balabhaskar's father Unni, who raised allegations against the smuggling gang. Unni requested the Crime Branch to check if Prakash and his accomplice Vishnu had any role in his son’s death.
The Crime Branch has collected information from the DRI officers who are probing the gold smuggling case.
The DRI has found that Prakash had conducted several foreign trips after Balabhaskar's death.
Another accused in the smuggling case, Vishnu, who also coordinated Balabhaskar's programmes, is currently absconding.
Sound recordist to be questioned
Sound recordist of Cochin Kalabhavan, Kalabhavan Sobi, could also be questioned. Sobi, who claimed that he had passed by the accident site minutes after the incident, said he had noticed unusual scenes.
Scientific tests likely
In view of the recent developments, scientific tests would be conducted to ascertain who was driving the car at the time of the accident. Driver Arjun claimed that Balabhaskar was driving the car, though the violinist's wife refuted the claim. Though a forensic test was held to find out who was driving the car, it did not yield the desired results. The officers would take Arjun's statements again. The statements of violinist's wife Lakshmi would also be taken.
Lakshmi has reiterated that Arjun had driven the car during the time of the accident. "Balabhaskar was sleeping on the back seat, while my daughter and I were sitting in the front," she explained.
Lakshmi further said that she had no clue about the dealings of Vishnu and Prakash, accused in the gold smuggling case.
Lakshmi claimed that Balabhaskar got acquainted with Prakash at the gym. "Prakash was Balabhaskar's trainer. When Balabhaskar's programme coordinator left for abroad, Prakash took up that task. There are several people who helped in programme coordination. Balu does not have any other connection with these people. A Facebook post clarifying these matters were put up with my knowledge," she said.
The government had ordered for a Crime Branch probe after Balabhaskar's father Unni filed a complaint.
Balabhaskar's car met with an accident at Pallippuram in Thiruvananthapuram on September 25, 2018. While his two-year-old daughter Tejaswini Bala died on the spot, Balabhashar succumbed to injuries on October 2 at the hospital. Lakshmi, who suffered grievous injuries, recovered after a long time.
DRI probe too
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) would take separate statements from all those who have been arrested for gold smuggling via Thiruvananthapuram airport.
Prakash too would be take taken into custody and questioned.
Other accused in the smuggling cas -- Sunilkumar, Sereena, and Biju -- would be also questioned over Balabhaskar's death. They would also be quizzed on how long they had been carrying out gold smuggling.
The DRI suspects that these people got involved in gold smuggling after Balabhaskar's death. The DRI would seek the help of Dubai Police to nab Keralite Jithu, who has been aiding them in gold smuggling in the Gulf country.
Kazhakoottam native Sindhu, Prakash Thamby's main accomplice Vishnu, PPM Chains manager Hakeem who bought gold from them and director Muhammed Ali are all still absconding.
As one of the main accused Biju has surrendered, the officials believe that the rest of the gang would also follow suit.
After the arrest of customs superintendent Radhakrishnan, the DRI had questioned other customs officers but did not get any crucial leads.
