The State government has appointed B. Sandhya, Additional Director General of Police, South Zone.
Henceforth, she would head the investigation into the politically stormy rape-murder of the Dalit law student in Perumbavoor. Officials said the removal of K. Padmakumar from the post was no reflection on his merit as a law enforcer.
The State police had briefed the Chief Minister on the vast ground the lower-level investigators had covered in the case under the leadership of Mr. Padmakumar. Officials said the Chief Minister was told that the singular achievement in the case so far was the successful extraction of unfamiliar DNA from the saliva residue found on the victim’s dress. It has helped them rule out several suspects.
Blind case
He was also briefed on the quantum of work put in by the investigation team to solve what is still viewed as a ‘blind case.’ There were no eyewitnesses to the crime.
The police are yet to zero in on the motive. Investigators are yet to answer the vexing question whether the murder was committed by a “stranger who came knocking” or a person known to the victim. There was scarce evidence to suggest that the assailant had forcibly entered the house.
The delay in solving the crime had undermined the electoral prospects of the UDF government in the run-up to the polls. Consequently, the police had come under immense pressure to solve the crime.
Officials said Mr. Vijayan was likely to allow the existing team to continue under Ms. Sandhya till the time he decided that new investigators were required to take a fresh look at the case.
