Hummer horror: Audio CD raises questions over police probe
George on Thursday said the DGP had gone to Thrissur to meddle in the probe in a manner to save Nisham.
The government chief whip P C George caused a stir on Monday by releasing an audio CD of a conversation between DGP (headquarters) M N Krishnamurthy, who retired on February 28, and SP Jacob Job, now under suspension on charges of holding a meeting with businessman Muhammed Nisham, who fatally rammed his Hummer into a security guard.
Revealing the contents of the CD, George had alleged DGP (law and order) K S Balasubramaniam had tried to intervene in the Hummer case to salvage Nisham. Balasubramaniam and Krishnamurthy had denied the allegation that they tried to influence the probe into the murder. But, Krishnamurthy had admitted that Jacob, who was the Thrissur city police commissioner, had called him on March 1, a day after he retired.
DGP Balasubramaniam demanded that the home department should look into the conspiracy behind the recorded conversation. George, on his part, has threatened to bring out more evidence against the DGP, saying that Job was made a scapegoat. Job had been a youth leader of George’s Kerala Congress (M) before joining police.
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The government has taken a stand there was not even an iota of evidence against the Krishnamurthy in the audio CD. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala argued that it was a conversation between a retired DGP and a suspended SP. The only flaw in the minister’s argument is that Krishnamurthy retired only on February 28; on the same day, he was made special officer for the proposed police university.
Reacting to the controversy, CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the released audio of conversation between the officers showed the rotten side of Kerala Police.
Following is the text of the conversation between M N Krishnamurthy and Jacob Job. It raises several questions which must be answered by the senior police officers with regard to the Hummer horror case.
When Jacob Job opens the conversation, Krishnamurthy immediately responds with a reference to a previous conversation he had with Job.
Krishnamurhty says: Jacob, why they did in this manner even after I my call.
Job: Sir, you then called me asking to do if it was possible. I told the CI (could be the investigating officer in the security guard’s murder case) to look into what is truth and do accordingly. The same thing I told others who called me. I had already told you then that it would be difficult to do what you said since the media was behind the case. Then you had told me all right. Sir, has the minister got any interest in the case.
Krishnamurthy: No. No, this is not the interest of the minister. But it is the interest of our Swami (DGP law and order K S Balasubramaniam is referred to as Swami). We had sent Jose (Inspector- General T J Jose) there (Thrissur). It is said in Jose’s report that you had questioned him (Nisham) for one-and-an-hour in your room.
Job: Sir, only half an hour
Krishnamurthy: Yes. That there was no investigating officer with you during the questioning has been painted as a grave mistake. You entertained him (Nisham). Other officers had doubts about what happened there at that time. There were rumours that there had been some transaction between you and Nisham.
Job: What actually happened was this: There were reports in the media that Nisham was taken to Bangalore for a pleasure trip. When he was taken to Bangalore, I had warned the officers to be careful as the media was behind them.
Media men told me that the accused person who was assigned to police custody was staying in star hotel… he was changing his dress every hour….and he was allowed to move around without being handcuffed. When they came back (from Bangalore), I called the officers and they brought him to my office. I asked Nisham about what I had heard from the media. He denied everything. Later, I came to know from policemen that Nisham had dined at star hotels during the Bangalore trip.
Then, he told me that the station writer sought Rs 5 lakh, claiming that he can save Nisham from the case. When I asked who else had taken money from him, Nisham said he had paid to everyone. But he did not reveal the names of the officers saying that they are helping him. He told me that police said that he was being harassed only because of the commissioner.
I asked him how he would escape from the case after brutally attacking the security guard. To that question, he said Chandrabose was not dead, so that he could escape. In between the conversation, two police officers came to my room. Then, how I can manage a secret deal with Nisham. I asked him about the allegations against police officers, who took him to Bangalore. That could not be inquired about in the officers’ presence.
Krishnamurthy: They said you did not allow any officer to sit in the room.
Job: Sir, they all had collected money from Nisham.
Krishnamurthy: Someone in the party in Thrissur had misled the minister (Home Minister and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala) about you. They had told the minister that you had collected huge sum. When I said no, the minister opposed it.
Job: Since I joined Thrissur five months back, I haven’t taken any money from anyone.
Krishnamurthy: You call some party leaders and try to get reinstated. These are all mere rumours. There are no evidences.
Job: Yes Sir.
Krishnamurthy: Why Jose (Thrissur range IG T J Jose) has so much grudge towards you (It was Jose who probed against Job and based on his report, Job was suspended)
Job: He (Jose) might have done as per the direction from the DGP (Balasubramaniam).
Krishnamurthy: DGP had come here twice to attend some meeting. He had discussions with Jose and got the report directly. Then, DGP called me to his office and told me that I had directly sought the report as it was very urgent. Then, I contacted Chennithala (Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala) over phone. He told me that he was going to Banglore and before that he (Job) should be punished.
Job: Sir, I am an SP; not a driver
Krishnamurthy: Yes, you are an IPS officer.
Job: I was asked only about my reaction to the news (that Job had a meeting with Nisham). I was not allowed to explain other things. But, others were questioned based on the statement taken from me. I was not allowed to speak. I had stated about the officials who had taken money from Nisham. But, no intelligence report in this regard was sought from the special branch.
Sir, DGP has a grudge towards me because he had earlier told me to compromise a case involving a person Vaideeswaran.
Krishnamurthy: Oh, Vaideeswaran…Our security (he is running a share trading business). He had come here (police headquarters) two days back. There was a scoundrel named Rajendran along with him. They had sat with the DGP (Balasubramaniam) for an hour. When I entered into the DGP’s chamber, they were talking something. Sometimes, they may be behind the issue.
Job: Yes, sir. They are behind this. It is because of him (Vaideeswaran), the DGP bores ill-will towards me. He has to give Rs 2.5 crore to his counter party in a case. Besides, a woman case (sexual assault case) is pending against him. Thrissur East police are probing into it. The DGP wanted that I should settle the assault case. I tried two or three times, but they are not willing. Another minister also called me in this regard. At last, they were ready to settle the case at Rs 2.5 crore. I informed that matter to the DGP. But, the DGP told me that I was asked to intervene not expecting that. He asked me why I don’t have the ability to compromise a case. I told them that it was a deal between big parties and I was helpless in this. I communicated this to the DGP. That is why the DGP has bitterness towards me.
Krishnamurthy: He might have said some lie about you to the DGP. It is learnt that he had informed the DGP that you had sought bribe.
Job: No sir. I had not allowed him to enter my room. That I was not entertaining him was their complaint against me. Policemen had told me that he was a nuisance and better keep away from him. In late evenings, he used to abuse me in a drunken state.
Krishnamurthy: Yesterday also I saw him (Vaideeswaran) in the DGP’s room. When he saw me, he told me that he had met me when I was SP in Thrissur. I told him that I was not familiar with him. You try to settle this. The special branch police in Thrissur also gave report against you.
Job: As things were going like this, one day the Home minister called me to inform that I would be SP in Idukki district from tomorrow onwards. Then, I asked the reason for transfer. He said since Jose was posted as IG in Thrissur, two Christians could be put together in the same place. Thus I was transferred to Pathanamthitta. A few days later, when I was mourning the death of my brother-in-law, R Nishanthini (then DCP, Kochi) said that she was taking charge as Thrissur city commissioner.
Krishnamurthy: Yes. After the tour, I came back on 13. Only then I came to know that Swami (DGP) had hurriedly posted Nishanthini in Thrissur. Actually, that post was meant for Uma Behra (another lady IPS officer). Swami had influenced Nishanthini. What can be done if Swami does things in such a hurry? He does not know the level of the operations. Swami was against your posting in Thrissur.
Job: Yes sir. God is there.
Krishnamurthy: God will help you.
Job: But, they could tarnish me. I think all these operations might have taken place when the DGP went to Kalyan Swami (owner of Kalyan group in Thrissur).
Krishnamurthy: Most probably.
Job: Yes Sir, he was with Kalyan Swami for three days.
Krishnamurthy: You see, the Home Minister is a nice person. He was misled by someone.
Job: Yes. I know him from college days in 1977. He might have suspended me only to protect his image.
Krishnamurthy: Yes, Yes. It is our own people (police officers) who mislead the minister.
Job: Ok Sir.
Krishnamurthy: God will save you.
Source:: Indian Express