CBI chargesheets 28 in Muthoot Group scion murder

KOCHI: CBI today filed two chargesheets in the case relating to the murder of Kerala businessman Paul Muthoot George, scion of the multi-crore Muthoot M George group, last year and has listed 28 accused.

The CBI has filed two chargesheets -- for the murder and another case for destruction of evidence. There are 14 accused in each of the two cases.

The chargesheets were filed before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate court here this evening.

As per the chargesheet in the murder case, the first accused Jayachandran, a goonda leader from Chengnacherry and second accused Kari Sateeshan had stabbed Paul on August 21 last year following sudden provocation.

Seven of the accused have turned approvers. Om Prakash and Puthampalan Rajesh, who were 24th and 25th accused in the police case, have been made witnesses by the CBI. The two were travelling with Paul in the vehicle when he was fatally attacked near Alappuzha.

Police had at first probed the high profile case and filed chargesheet which was rejected by the court here.

The case was then handed over to CBI by the Kerala High Court following a plea by Paul's father George M Muthoot, Chairman of the Muthoot group.

While the police chargesheet had stated that an 'S' shaped knife had been used to stab Paul, the CBI chargesheet says another knife was used to stab the victim. The knife was recovered from Manancherry at Alappuzha.

The Muthoot group is multi-crore conglomerate which is into gold loans, hospitality and stockbroking, among others.