Political nexus suspected in gangster murder

By S. Shivakumar

CHENNAI, FEB. 1. Police suspect a political nexus in the murder of Abdul Salam, a gangster, whose body was found in ICF on Wednesday.

The gangster was a prime witness in the murder case of the multi- millionaire Chartered Accountant Pandian. His body was found with stab injuries.

The main accused in the case, the erstwhile general secretary of Puthiya Tamilagam (PT), Selvam, was arrested on December 31 last year, amidst high drama when he attempted to escape from the police by jumping from the first floor of his apartment on 6th Avenue in Anna Nagar.

Though Pandian was murdered on April 4, 1996, the CB CID probe into the case was intensified after a new officer took charge of the investigation. The motive for the murder of Pandian was to take control of his wealth, police said.

Following the arrest of Selvam, he was stripped of his membership in PT. This led to violence, with a group ransacking the PT head office in Chennai.

Meanwhile, the murder of Abdul Salam, is seen as a major setback for the investigating agency. The police suspect a bigger conspiracy into the murder, as Salam, had earlier been charged with attempting to murder Pandian. Police sources said Salam was a member of the dreaded `Vellai' Ravi gang and allegedly acted as a vital link between the underworld and Selvam.

The investigating team has also received veiled threats warning the team to go slow in the investigation from a gang which has its head quarters in Chidambaram.

The police are yet to make headway in the investigation of the murder of Adul Salam.

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Section  : Southern States
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