Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office (CMO) on Sunday announced a Special Investigation Team to probe the disappearance of Kozhikode-based businessman Muhammad Attur, alias Mami, The News Minute reported.
Mami went missing on August 21, 2023 giving rise to huge political controversy in the state recently with ruling LDF legislator PV Anwar claiming that ADGP Ajith Kumar had a hand in the disappearance of the businessman.
Anwar earlier alleged that Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) MR Ajith Kumar was ‘directly or indirectly involved in the Mami missing case’.
The SIT probe comes as Mami’s family alleged on September 5 that Kerala police did not efficiently probe the case, saying that the businessman disappeared from near Baby Memorial Hospital, and police couldn’t find a single image of him despite there are many CCTVs.
‘So, you can figure out whether the police investigation was a failure or not,” his family member was quoted as saying.
It is reported that Mami’s family welcomed the government’s decision of handing over the case to the Crime Branch with the Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch, H Venkatesh heading the team.
Muhammad Attur, hailing from Balussery, left his office in the city for a masjid at about six in the evening on August 21, 2023.
His wife received a message an hour later saying that he would be late as he was far away and no one has seen his since.
Following initial investigation by Nadakkavu police and DCP's special squad, team under ADGP Ajith Kumar took over the probe.
Dissatisfied by the Kerala police investigation, the family filed a petition in the High Court seeking a CBI inquiry.
After the government set up SIT, Anwar reportedly asked Mam’s family and the action committee to remain as patient saying that there are efficient officials who could probe missing case.