Crime Branch, DRI spread net for Vishnu

Thiruvananthapuram: Crime Branch probing the mystery behind Balabhaskar’s death and DRI who is investigating the gold smuggling is on the lookout for Vishnu Somasundaram.

Any further advances in the Thiruvananthapuram airport gold smuggling case can be achieved only if the absconding accused is found.

The CB sleuths wanted the law graduate who is in the Middle East but not using a mobile phone, to make progress in the case.

Vishnu was behind the gold smuggling from the Middle East, according to Serina, whom the DRI arrested for smuggling in 25 kg of gold from Dubai. Her statement also mentioned a Pakistani national who introduced Jithu, a close associate of Vishnu.

Meanwhile, contradictions have surfaced in the witness accounts on who was driving Balabhaskar’s car at the time of the accident.

Three youngsters at the juice shop in Kollam, where he had stopped over for refreshment, gave statements that it was Arjun who was at the wheel.

It was contrary to the statement by, Aji, a KSRTC driver and the main witness in the case, who told the police that it was Balabhaskar who drove the car.

As per the three, they had seen a young man wearing green shirts and Bermuda at the driver’s seat of the Innova car who came out and bought juice and gave it to Balabhaskar who was sitting at the back.

Both of them shared the juice.

The three were on their way back home from Thiruvananthapuram airport.

Earlier, Nandu, who was on the spot at the time of the accident, stated that Arjun drove the car and that Balabhaskar was found lying unconscious in the back seat.

His wife Lekshmy had also stated that it was Arjun who drove the car from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram. However, Arjun told police that it was Balabhaskar who was at the wheel.