The Kerala police's Special Investigation Team has questioned the top executive of a multimedia publishing company in connection with the attack on a college lecturer, whose right hand was chopped off allegedly by activists of the radical outfit Popular Front of India.
M Usman, managing director, Multimedia Publishing Co, which publishes Thejas daily, was quizzed on Friday. The SIT had found that some of the company's workers were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to attack T J Joseph for preparing a question paper with alleged derogatory references to Prophet Mohammad and helped the culprits escape after the incident, police said.
The SIT had asked Usman to furnish details of the numbers of mobile and landlines provided by his company to its workers to trace call details, police said. Usman handed over 43 SIM cards to the officials during questioning.
The SIT had earlier questioned Popular Front of India state president Nazarudeen Elamaram and Professor P Koya, editor of 'Thejas', the mouthpiece of PFI.
Joseph was attacked on July 4 when he was returning home with his family after attending prayers at a church. So far, 25 persons have been arrested in connection with the case.