Kerala businessman's murder mystery solved, claims police

New Delhi, Aug. 24 (ANI): The murder case of Kerala businessman Paul Muthoot George has been solved, Kerala Police claimed on Monday.

According to the police theory, a gang of nearly 22 men was behind the murder of Paul, 30, who was heading the Muthoot M George Group's hospitality business.

The hired man who stabbed Paul has not been arrested so far, police said

Paul was killed last Friday night on the Alappuzha-Changanassery road. A friend who was with him was injured and is in hospital; both were stabbed.

On Sunday, police arrested 12 persons, including notorious criminals, identified as Om Prakash and Rajesh.

A team led by the IGP, Ernakulam Range, Vinson Paul, is interrogating the suspects.

The Muthoot Group is a major player in the financial services business in Kerala and has been slowly expanding its reach to other parts of the country. Paul is the chairman's second son.

Earlier, media reports had suggested business rivalry could be a reason. Involvement of persons related to the narcotics trade was also not being ruled out.

The dead man and his friend were found by the roadside on Friday night. The vehicle they were travelling in was missing. The vehicle, a Ford Endeavour, was found abandoned this morning at Kollam, 40 km away.

Paul, who was based in Delhi, had recently returned to Kerala to take charge of the leisure and hospitality arm.

He was returning from an under-construction resort at Mararikulam when he was stabbed to death.

Paul was Chairman M G George Muthoot's second son, while his two brothers, George Muthoot George and Alexander George Muthoot, are also associated with the group as executive director and as a director, respectively.

In addition, four of Paul's cousins are part of the fourth generation of Muthoot directors, who had been inducted into the group. (ANI)