Police in Kochi are intensifying their probe into the arson attack outside the historic Kadavumbhagam Synagogue. On Sunday, a 20-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Assistant Commissioner Sibi Tom took the 32-year-old accused, Ebin Paul of Puthencruz, to multiple locations for evidence collection. Ebin was arrested after allegedly setting fire to banners and flex boards at a nursery in front of the synagogue around 2:40 a.m. on October 12. He drove a blue car, poured petrol, recorded the crime on his mobile phone, and escaped. During Sunday's inspection, local shop employees identified him. He showed officers the shops where he bought a lighter, firecrackers in Tripunithura, and petrol from a fuel pump in Puthencruz. Separately, police had also seized suspected drugs from his rented home.

Reconstructing the crime scene across multiple spots

The investigation team took Ebin inside the synagogue premises and around the nursery. Later in the evening, officers took him to Muvattupuzha. There, he had tried setting fire to a used-car showroom earlier this year. Police also took him to a nearby house where he reportedly admitted throwing fire inside through an open window.

During questioning, Ebin claimed he received ₹5,000 for the car showroom attack. For the synagogue arson, he claimed he received cryptocurrency worth ₹2 lakh. Preliminary phone checks suggest an organized operational pattern. Targets were assigned online, attacks were executed and filmed, and video proof was sent back for payment.

Key clues, digital trails, and unanswered questions

Despite the scene reconstructions, major questions remain unanswered. Ebin told police he acted on instructions from an online handler named 'Boss'. However, officers have not yet identified who 'Boss' actually is.

Investigators are still awaiting forensic examination reports on Ebin’s seized phone and digital devices. Police have also written to Telegram seeking chat records, but a reply is pending. Central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), are examining possible links to international extremist networks or a larger conspiracy. With Ebin’s police custody ending on Monday, the SIT is deciding whether to seek further custody after consulting central agency officials.