Kochi: Tainted CPM leader Zakir Hussain, an accused in the abduction of a businessman, on Thursday surrendered before the police, and the court remanded him in judicial custody till December 1. Zakir, who has been absconding for the past 21 days, appeared before the Kochi City Police Commissionerate at 8 a,m. City Task Force head Assistant Commissioner of Police S. Shihabudheen reached the spot and took him into custody. The police recorded his arrest by 9 a.m. Later, the cops questioned him for more than an hour and collected the details. Sources said that Zakir denied the allegation and stated that the case was politically motivated.
The police produced Zakir before the Kalamassery first class judicial magistrate at 3 p.m. Zakir sought bail but the police opposed it saying he may destroy the evidence. They also submitted that there was no need for his custodial interrogation. Considering the submissions, the magistrate remanded him in the district jail at Kakkanad for 14 days. The police had registered an FIR on October 27 after Juby Poulose, a young businessman, lodged a complaint against Zakir and others claiming that at the behest of Sheela Thomas, a dairy plant owner based at Kangarappady, Zakir abducted him and threatened him.
The High Court on Monday disposed of the anticipatory bail application of Zakir and asked him to surrender before the police within seven days. The very next day, he reached the Kalamassery area committee office and spent the whole day there, but the police refused to arrest him maintaining that Zakir was not in town.
This is the first arrest made by the Special Task Force formed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after reports emerged that the cities in the state were under the grip of goons.
