High Court hands over Muthoot probe to CBI

The court observed that the investigation by the police was incomplete and in the wrong direction. It was improper on the part of Central Kerala IG Vinson M Paul, who had led the probe, to convene a press conference when the probe was midway. Even before completing the probe and recovering the weapons used by the assailants, the IG had stated before the media that George was stabbed with an S-shaped knife, the court said. (Quoting the IG, CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had found that the S-shaped knife was generally used by RSS men).

The court observed that the content of the press meet later emerged as the chargesheet and the media briefing looked like laying the foundation for the investigation, which was held after fixing the accused.