Kozhikode: Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against a man accused of brutally assaulting and attempting to kill his newly-wed wife in Kozhikode district, police reported on Friday. Speculations are rife that the accused, Rahul P. Gopal, may have fled to Germany, where he is employed.

Earlier, Rahul claimed to the media that he had reached Singapore, insisting that the complaint filed by his wife was fabricated. This development comes amid these reports.

A senior police officer in Kozhikode city confirmed that the Blue Corner notice was issued on Thursday. "A request was sent to Interpol through the Ministry of External Affairs for its issuance," the officer said.

A Blue Corner notice is used by Interpol to collect additional information from member countries about a person's identity, location, or activities in relation to a crime.

This notice follows a lookout circular issued by the police against Rahul P. Gopal. The allegations against him were brought to light on Tuesday, with the bride and her family claiming that he had brutally assaulted and attempted to kill his wife following an argument over dowry, just a week after their wedding on May 5.

The bride's in-laws have denied demanding dowry. Gopal's mother claimed that the altercation arose because the bride refused to stay in the matrimonial home. "We never demanded dowry as we do not require it," she stated.

Both the Kerala Women's Commission (KWC) and the State Human Rights Commission are investigating the issue and have requested reports from the police. The KWC criticised the police for allegedly not taking the woman's complaint seriously at first.

The woman alleged that the police in Pantheerankavu, where her matrimonial home is located, did not register a case of attempted murder despite her stating that her husband tried to strangle her with a mobile phone charging cable. She and her family also claimed that the police attempted to settle the matter.

In response to widespread criticism, including from the Congress-led UDF opposition, a new investigative team has been constituted to probe the case.

With PTI inputs