Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi
Kochi, Dec 3: The NIA Special Court in Kochi has granted five days of custodial interrogation of Shahul Hameed, the 50th accused in the murder of RSS worker Sreenivasan, following his arrest at Delhi airport after remaining absconding for more than three years.
As per the order of the Special Court for NIA Cases, Ernakulam, Shahul Hameed — a native of Palakkad — was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, at 4.15 am on November 27 based on a Look Out Circular issued against him.
He was produced before the court and remanded to NIA custody from 12.30 pm on December 1 till 5 pm on December 5 to enable detailed interrogation.
The NIA has accused Hameed of being an active member of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and part of a wider conspiracy linked to the organisation’s alleged “India 2047” agenda aimed at establishing Islamic rule in the country.
The agency further alleges that he assisted key conspirators, including harbouring the 18th accused after the murder of Sreenivasan, and engaged in activities destabilising public order and communal harmony in Kerala.
Investigators informed the court that Hameed used multiple digital devices and social media platforms for covert communication before, during, and after the crime while staying abroad to evade arrest.
Devices seized during his arrest have been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad, for analysis. Officials stated that any incriminating digital evidence will be examined and confronted with him in custody.
Case documents presented in court reveal that several sensitive materials, including alleged “hit lists”, names of physical education trainers and PFI “reporters”, have been recovered earlier in the investigation. The NIA plans to question Hameed on these documents and his possible links to other absconding suspects.
Rejecting the defence contention that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, the court noted that further questioning was crucial to uncover the full scope of the conspiracy and identify remaining members involved.
RSS worker Sreenivasan was killed on April 16, 2022, inside his bike repair shop at Melamuri in Palakkad, allegedly by PFI operatives. The case, which initially named over 70 accused, was instrumental in providing the Union government with evidence that contributed to the nationwide ban on PFI.
During the probe, the NIA unearthed alleged underground arms training operations and targeted lists prepared to execute planned attacks.