CMO sets up special team to investigate “Mami” disappearance case

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. File | Photo credit: ANI

The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Office (CMO) has constituted a special team to investigate the disappearance of Kozhikode businessman Muhammad Atoor alias Mami in 2023.

A press release issued by the CMO said that Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch. H Venkatesh will lead the investigation.

The missing person case became politically controversial after PV Anvar, an independent lawmaker from the Left Democratic Front (LDF), linked the police and what he called the mafia in north Kerala to the businessman’s disappearance.

He accused the state police, led by Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Mr Ajith Kumar, of delaying the investigation.

Mr. Anvar’s allegations prompted Mr. Atoor’s family to move Mr. Vijayan for a CBI probe. The family also filed a petition in the High Court seeking referral of the case to the central agency.

Mr Anvar also alleged that the police team investigating the sensational case had initially recommended a CBI probe.

Mr. Atoor’s family reported that the businessman went missing from Kozhikode on August 22, 2023. The police investigation soon petered out. Mr. Anvar revived the case by accusing the police of being involved in the disappearance.

Leader of the Opposition, V D Sateeshan, challenged Mr Vijayan to order a CBI probe if the government had nothing to hide. He said he did not trust the Crime Branch investigation in the current state of affairs.