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Thiruvananthapuram: Investigations into the financial fraud allegedly committed by a 20-year-old in Kerala were handed over to the state police crime branch on Thursday and a government official was suspended for suspected links with him.
Sabarinath, who ran a sharebroking-cum-financial institution here, was arrested Monday evening after being on the run for five days. He is alleged to have cheated clients out of Rs2 billion (Dh160 million).
Reports allege that a member of the local police team that conducted the initial probe into the scam had close links with Sabarinath.
Also, the state industries department on Thursday suspended S. Chandramathi, a top official working with the Small Industries Development Corporation.
Sabarinath had told the media after his arrest that she had cheated him. But Chandramathi in an interview with a local newspaper has said she had had no links with Sabarinath for more than 15 months and was not involved in any dealings with him.
Reports aired by TV channels on Thursday also claimed the police officer who was investigating the case had sung in a yet-to-be released music album produced by Sabarinath and the two were close.
Media attack
The arrest of Sabarinath at Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu also came under attack in the media, which speculated that it was a well-planned drama between the police and a gang led by "Airport Sajan" to whom the former owed money.
What has baffled many is the manner in which Sabarinath was allowed to speak to the media, just before he was produced in a court Tuesday.
Opposition leader Oommen Chandy on Thursday said a case of this dimension was probably happening for the first time in Kerala.
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