Kottayam: As the trail into the sensational 2018 Kevin murder case progresses here, a policeman who was a witness to a few key events that preceded the crime told the court that accused Chacko John had agreed to conduct the marriage of his daughter Neenu with Kevin within a month. This statement was given by former Gandhinagar SI M S Shibu in his statement to the court.
Chacko was given permission to speak to Neenu after he gave his word on the marriage, he said.
Kevin P Joseph, a 23-year old Dalit Christian man, was found dead in the Chaliyekkara stream in Kollam in late May 2018.
Chacko had filed a police complaint on May 25, 2018, saying that Kevin had abducted Neenu. He also called Neenu home from the hostel at Ammancheri, on the outskirts of Kottayam town, where she was put up.
Neenu had told the cops that she was not willing to go with her father and would instead prefer going with Kevin. Chacko also tried to push Neenu into the car in front of the police station, said Shibu in his statement given to the district principal sessions court.
Shibu said in his statement that he had informed the district police chief and the DySP about the abduction of Kevin and his relative Aneesh by Neenu's relatives at 7 am. Since he was part of VIP duty at the medical college, he could begin the probe only by 4 pm. He could carry out the investigation only for half a day, he said.
The VIP duty was for a visit by the chief minister.
"At 6 am on May 27, it was ASI T M Biju who informed me about the abduction. By 7 am, I called up DySP Shajimon Joseph to inform him about the case," said Shibu. The DySP then asked if it was the same case mentioned by ASI Biju, said Shibu.
"By 10 am, I informed the district police chief too. From 2 pm to 5 pm on May 27, 2018, I was part of the VIP duty for CM's visit."
Shibu, meanwhile, stated he doesn't remember saying that Kevin's cousin Aneesh, who was kidnapped along with him, had given a statement alleging that the gang members had said that the abduction was a Rs 1.5 lakh 'quotation job'.
When Aneesh was released by the gang, there was an injury mark on his eyes. He was in a state of shock and intense mental strain. Since an FIR had to be filed fast, Aneesh was asked to give a shortened statement, said Shibu.
Aneesh had told the court that Shibu did not allow him to provide the details.
Shibu also said that he doesn't remember Kevin's father Joseph calling him on phone the day he was abducted.
Shibu was dismissed from service for abetting the kidnapping and murder of Kevin earlier this year. He was taken back into service recently but the order reinstating Shibu was put on hold following protests.
He said that he is not aware if he has been dismissed from service. "A notice was issued saying my service will be terminated," he said.
