Thiruvananthapuram: A man arrested in connection with the seizure of hashish oil worth Rs 20 crore has escaped from police custody on Thursday. The accused identified as Georgekutty of Kottayam escaped during evidence collection in Bengaluru.
During evidence collection, Georgekutty told the policemen that he needed to take a leak and requested them to let him off the jeep. When the policemen were trying to get Georgekutty down from the vehicle, he pushed off the cops and escaped, excise officials said.
There is criticism that Georgekutty was taken to Bengaluru without adequate security arrangements. The Bengaluru police are investigating.
Georgekutty was arrested from Vazhamuttom on the Kovalam-Karod bypass road during a vehicle check on June 22. Police seized 20 kilograms of hashish oil, 2.5 kilograms of ganja, and 250 grams of charas.
Georgekutty brought the car from Moovattupuzha and took it to Theni to build a secret compartment near the fuel tank. The officials found the secret compartment when they lifted the car up to inspect the underside.
Georgekutty has connections with several other criminals in Thiruvananthapuram and was involved in many drug deals. He also has connections with goonda gangs. Georgekutty was accused of smuggling drugs using his child in his first marriage as a decoy. He used to take the child with him on the bike while going to sell drugs.
Based on investigations focusing on Georgekutty’s mobile phone, police found that he used to visit Andhra Pradesh frequently. The police have started investigations to identify those who had contacted Georgekutty through phone to buy drugs.