Thiruvananthapuram/Parassala: It was on Sunday night that Sunil Kumar, the mastermind behind the murder of Deepu, a quarry owner of Malayinkeezh, who was found dead inside his car with his throat slit, had surrendered before Tamil Nadu Police, in a dramatic manner.

In his statement given to the police, Sunil Kumar had said that he had no idea that the surgical blades and other tools bought for Sajikumar, the prime accused in the murder case, would be used for murdering Deepu. The interrogation of Sunil Kumar by the special investigation team has been progressing in an undisclosed center at Marthandam.

A special investigation team of Tamil Nadu Police had been after Sunil Kumar for the last three days in that State, and neighbouring districts of the State. Sunil’s car was spotted abandoned on the roadside near Kulasekharapuram on Saturday morning. Following this, the police had intensified the search for him in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. As the investigation was gaining momentum, Sunil Kumar reached Kaliyikkavila Police Station and surrendered before the police.

During the interrogation, Sunil Kumar has said that he met Sajikumar for the first time around seven months ago. Though he had confessed that it was he who had bought the surgical blade and other equipment, he said that he had no idea that the same was intended for murdering Deepu. But, the investigating officials do not take his statements seriously as they firmly believe that the person has a key role in planning the murder of Deepu. The accused, Sajikumar, had said that it was Sunil Kumar who had bought dresses for him and brought him to Kaliyikkavila in his car.

During the interrogation, Sunil Kumar said it was when they reached Kaliyikkavila that Sajikumar had said that he was going to kill Deepu. He further said that, as he tried to dissuade him from the crime, Sajikumar threatened him too.

The officials said that the statements given by Sajikumar and another accused Praveen Chandran were quite contradictory to that of the statement of Sunil Kumar.

Hero worship towards goons

It was his worship towards goons which had brought Sunil Kumar closer to Sajikumar. He had come to know about Sajikumar through one of his friends at Poonkulam near Venganur around seven months ago. Sunil Kumar, who is fond of goons and their adventurous stories, used to listen to the heroic tales of Sajikumar and their friendship flourished very quickly. Sunil Kumar said that he had watched a malayalam film recently released which tells about the goons of Thiruvananthapuram and the enmity between goonda gangs. This film had influenced him very much and he had become increasingly fascinated with Sajikumar’s stories.

It was during one such occasion, when they were sharing a drink, that Sajikumar had revealed his plans to kill Deepu.