The Hummer that Mohammed Nisham used to attack the guard K Chandrabose (inset). The Hummer that Mohammed Nisham used to attack the guard K Chandrabose (inset).

A district session’s court in Thrissur on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of controversial businessman Muhammed Nisham, in the case pertaining to the murder of a security guard at Sobha Township.

The court observed that Nisham is a highly influential businessman, which was evident from the fact that several criminal cases against him had been settled out of court.

Considering the likelihood of the accused attempting to influence or intimidate the witnesses, the court said bail could not be granted.

The Upa Lokayukta in Thrissur suo motu registered a case against investigating Officer Biju Kumar on his failure to record the statement of the security guard K Chandrabose when he was undergoing treatment. During the initial days of the treatment, Chandrabose had been conscious and used to talk to the doctors and family members. The failure of the police to record the victim’s statement had been construed as police’s bid to weaken the case.

Police, however, has said there was no lapse on its part and the statement could not be taken due to the guard’s health condition.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said Advocate-General K P Dandapani should be sacked as he had “helped’’ Nisham escape from prosecution.

Achuthanandan said Dandapani’s son had appeared for Nisham in the High Court and the prosecution had not opposed the move to withdraw the complaint. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala should make clear whether they had given any direction to the prosecution not to oppose the cases against Nisham, he said and added that Dandapani’s approach would weaken the legal system.

Meanwhile, Chandy’s Facebook post on the Hummer horror has triggered an outrage on the social media where the Chief Minister has been blamed for playing down the murder. On Wednesday, Chandy, in a Facebook post said: “The family of Chandrabose who died in Thrissur would be given a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh.

Chandrabose died in an extremely unfortunate situation. The incident has hurt the entire people of Kerala. The government would try its best through legal means to obtain compensation.’’

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