THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI unit here on Tuesday re-registered the Kathiroor Manoj murder case by invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
According to CBI sources, all the charges framed against the accused as per the initial first information report filed by the state police, including Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, have been invoked in the fresh FIR, which is the normal procedure.
The 16 persons arranged by the state police are arranged in the CBI’s FIR also. After further probe, the CBI may alter or may not alter the charges.
CBI unit SP Jose Mohan will head the investigation. All documents and evidence so far gathered by the Crime Branch team led by S. Ananthakrishnan were also handed over to the CBI. It also requested the state government to allow a camp officer in Kannur for the investigation.
RSS activist Kathiroor Manoj was murdered on September 1. The state government sought a CBI probe considering the demand of the BJP state unit. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who recently visited Manoj’s house, also had promised to order a CBI probe. The CBI had conducted a preliminary assessment and conveyed its willingness to take over the probe.
It may be recalled that the decision of the state police to invoke the UAPA had invited protest from various quarters. Even some Congress leaders had flayed the move.
