CBI court orders re-examination of witnesses in Paul Muthoot murder

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A special CBI court here Saturday ordered the re-examination of nine witnesses in the sensational Paul Muthoot George murder case.

Special court judge R. Reghu ordered the re-examination of witnesses listed one to eight, and eighteenth, in the witness list. There are over 200 witnesses in the case.

The court gave its direction as it found that the CBI chargesheet lacked clarity. The re-examination has been posted for May 13.

Paul M. George, 32, was killed under mysterious circumstances near Alappuzha on August 21, 2009 while travelling in a car with Om Prakash and Rajesh, two men who face several criminal cases in the state.

George, a bachelor, belonged to the wealthy Muthoot business family, which runs a hugely successful private banking business, besides other ventures.

Local police first investigated the crime, and a special team was later constituted to probe the murder. That team arrested 14 people.

Later, George's father sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe; CBI took up the case in January 2010.

All the accused, barring two, are out on bail. Among those not released on bail is second accused K. Satheesh, who according to the police stabbed George.

The motive of the crime, according to the investigating agency, was sudden provocation to anger as George's speeding vehicle knocked down a two-wheeler and failed to stop.

The accused and his group of men, who saw this, followed George and stopped his vehicle. After a verbal duel, George was stabbed to death, investigators claim.