Alappuzha: Nikhil Thomas, a former SFI leader involved in a fake degree certificate case, has been remanded to seven days of police custody. The court will review the accused's bail application on June 27, and the police report must be submitted by 26.

The prosecution sought a 14-day police custody for Nikhil, but the defence objected, arguing that two days of custody would suffice. The court ultimately ordered a seven-day custody for the accused.

The prosecution emphasised the gravity of Nikhil's actions. He has to be taken to the Kochi firm that provided the fake certificate, Kayamkulam MSM College, Kerala University and locations where he hid during the last few days in Kozhikode for evidence collection, it argued.

According to police, Nikhil told them that the fake certificate from Kalinga University was procured through the Orion Agency in Palarivattom, Kochi, with the involvement of his friend and former SFI member, Abin C Raj. Nikhil told police that he paid Rs 2 lakh for the fake certificate. Efforts are underway to bring him back from the Maldives for interrogation.