The murder of Paul Muthoot George, scion of the Rs 20,000 crore Muthoot group of companies and son of its managing director Mutthot M George, has sent shock waves across Kerala.
Paul Muthoot George, 32, was killed in the wee hours of Saturday on the Alappuzha-Changanachery route, while he was traveling in a car along with some acquintances.
According to Manu alias Praveen, a person who was traveling with Paul during the time of the incident, a group of persons in a tempo had blocked the route. Nearly 12 people from the tempo then stabbed Paul to death.
Paul's driver Shibu was traveling in another car while the victim was himself driving a friend's car. Shibu has told the police that the three acquintances Paul was traveling with were unknown to him.
Sources in the police have confirmed that two of the persons traveling with Paul were notorious criminals from Thiruvananthapuram. The police are probing their connection with Paul, who had just started his business operations in Kerala, after completing his education in Delhi.
Paul was looking after the hospitality business of the Muthoot Group and was trying to buy properties across the state.
Speculations are rife that one of the suspects in the murder is closely associated with the son of a powerful minister in the state cabinet and the case would have to face considerable political pressure.
However, a senior police officer told rediff.com that the police would not budge to any such pressure.
Inspector General of Central Zone Vincent M Paul, who is in charge of the investigations, has refused to divulge any facts to the media, but has promised to hold a press conference on Monday.