Keralam: Two arrested in Thalassery for forging documents over drug deals

The accused have been identified as Abdul Rahman, 39, of Mogral in Kasaragod, and KM Rishad, 41, of Palluruthy in Ernakulam. The two were arrested in Bengaluru during an investigation conducted as part of Operation Toofan.

Police seized more than 100 Aadhaar and PAN cards, several fake certificates, mobile phones and seals from the accused.

The investigation gained momentum following the arrest of Mujithab, alias Thabu, 28, of Chirakkara in Thalassery, who was wanted in an MDMA case and was recently arrested while hiding in Bengaluru. He was apprehended in a joint operation by Kannur and Thalassery DANSAF teams and the Thalassery ASP squad.

Bank account details obtained during Mujithab's interrogation led investigators to the two accused. Police found that one of the bank accounts used by Mujithab was registered in the name of a deceased Mysuru resident.

According to police, fake bank accounts were allegedly created using the identities of people wandering on the streets. Investigators suspect Abdul Rahman and Rishad arranged the necessary documents and other assistance for those seeking such accounts.

ASP Nandagopan said police are investigating whether more people are involved and the extent of transactions carried out using forged documents. Police also suspect that a larger network is operating behind the accused. The investigation into the drug network began after 0.86 grams of MDMA was seized in New Mahe last month.

Further investigation into the seizure of 185 grams of MDMA from Chirakkara in Thalassery on June 11 subsequently led to the arrest of Mujithab, identified as a key accused in the case.

Meanwhile in the incident regarding the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials near the residence of former CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kerala High Court on Monday granted bail to 9 CPI(M) workers who were accused of attacking the officials following a search operation at the former CM's residence

Hearing the bail petitions, Justice Kauser Edappagath observed that while the allegations against the accused are serious and cannot be justified, continued detention was unnecessary given the progress of the investigation and their lack of prior criminal records.

Highlighting the delay in police proceedings, Justice Edappagath noted that, "Even after 67 days, the police have not recovered the weapon used for the attack. I understand there is prima facie material; the allegation is very serious and cannot be justified, and the act has to be condemned. But still, they have been in custody for the last 67 days, the investigation is almost over, and nobody has any criminal antecedents."

The central agency strongly opposed the bail pleas, arguing that the attack was a pre-planned conspiracy to intimidate officers and disrupt an ongoing probe, stating, "The attack was not a result of sudden provocation; it was a planned act to deter officials from performing their duty."

Conversely, the defence counsel argued that the arrests failed to follow proper procedures and that Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for attempt to murder was improperly applied based merely on media footage without adequate physical evidence.

The case stems from an incident on May 27, when the convoy of ED officials concluded an 8-hour search at Pinarayi Vijayan's residence in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic investigation involving his daughter, Veena Thaikkandiyil. As the convoy was leaving, a mob allegedly surrounded the vehicles and attacked them with stones, bricks, and rods, damaging the vehicles and injuring officers alongside accompanying security personnel.

The petitioners, including Kiran PS, Jeevan, Anil Kumar, Sreejith, Nishad, Sidharth S, Shefeek, Nandhu GR, and Rahul A Rajan, moved the High Court after their bail applications were previously turned down twice by the Thiruvananthapuram District and Sessions Court. (ANI)