Key accused in Gym Santhosh murder case arrested from Tamil Nadu

Thiruvananthapuram: Karunagappally police arrested Aluva Athul, the key accused in the Gym Santhosh murder case, from Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. Athul was arrested in Tiruvallur, where he was hiding.

Eight others – Pankaj Menon, Rajeev, Hari, Sonu, Pyari, Samuel, Manu and Chakkara Athul – were earlier arrested in connection with the crime. On March 27, the accused trespassed into the house of A Santhosh Kumar, 45, alias Gym Santhosh of Padanayarkulangara and hacked him to death.

On March 29, police intercepted the vehicle in which Athul and his family, including his wife and child, were travelling at Aluva. However, he escaped from the police, leaving his family behind. He was living under a fake name and police received information about him from a phone call his wife received. Karunagappally police confirmed his presence there with the help of local police and went to Tamil Nadu to apprehend him.

He was brought to Karunagappally station on Wednesday night and his arrest was recorded. He will be remanded after being produced before a court on Thursday. "We are examining the role of other accused in the case. The deceased Santhosh had attacked and hacked Pankaj before. So, the gang murdered Santhosh to avenge it," said police.

Athul and the other accused are involved in several criminal cases, including NDPS cases, said police. Nearly 30 minutes after Santhosh's murder, the accused hacked Aneer, 31, of Kadathoor, while he was coming out of a hotel on Manappally Road near Vavvakkavu.