Youth Congress activist Rasheed Kodakara gives up in flat murder case

Thrissur: Youth Congress leader Rasheed Kodakara alias Rasheed Azeez, the first accused in the murder of a youth in a flat at Ayyanthole on March 3, surrendered before the fast track court in Palakkad on Tuesday. He is a close associate of former KPCC secretary M.R. Ramdas.

Ramdas was arrested by west police here on Monday in connection with the murder. Thrissur West CI V.K. Raju said that the investigation team had applied for a production warrant in the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court 2 in Thrissur to bring Rasheed here from the Palakkad court.

Ramdas, who was produced in the FCJM 2 in here on Tuesday, was sent to police custody for further interrogation. “On March 3, Satheesan, 32, of Shornur was fatally assaulted by Rasheed and his paramour, Saswathi of Guruvayur, after locking him up in the room of the first accused in Pinnacle Apartment for two days. The victim later fell unconscious and died in a private hospital. As per our investigation, Satheesan died early in the morning, and around 10.20 a.m., Ramadas rang up and misled us by saying that the real culprit was Krishna Prasad, the close aide of Rasheed,” the CI told DC.

A deal was struck with Krishna Prasad that he would own up the murder and in return he would be offered a lucrative job. Rasheed convinced him that using his political clout, the charges against him would be dropped as well, police sources said.

Saswathi had moved into the Pinnacle Apartments two months ago with her daughter, after legally separating from her husband. A quarrel broke out over the woman between Rasheed and Satheesan in the flat that led to the murder, police said.