Bengaluru Police Commissioner Rules Out Terrorism Angle
Bengaluru police commissioner N S Megharikh ruled out any element of terrorism linked to the accused. “Gokul’s motive was simple – to get Saju Jose in deep trouble,” he added.
After producing him before the jurisdictional court on Monday, he was taken back into police custody for further questioning.
He has created a few Facebook pages with provocative materials pertaining to IS which is being checked.
We have recovered laptops, pen drives and mobile phones from the accused. These electronic gadgets will be subjected to examination by cyber forensic experts.
We are not aware of the contents in the recovered items as the police are not allowed to touch it as it amounts to tampering the evidence.
— Bengaluru Police commissioner N S Megharikh to Bangalore Mirror.
What We Know So Far
- Gokul revealed the elaborate pursuit of his ex-girlfriend after finding her on social media in 2011 while his own marriage with Anuradha, who he had met in New Delhi while pursuing a management course, was on the rocks. [Indian Express]
- After Gokul re-entered Jose’s wife’s life in 2011, she started feeling more drawn toward him. “Once they got closer, Gokul started planning to eliminate all those who posed a hurdle in their relationship”, said a police official. [Bangalore Mirror]
- As part of his plot, Gokul told police, he got a transfer to Bengaluru this March and moved into the same apartment complex where his college friend was staying with her husband, Jose, and two children. [Indian Express]
- In the last week of June, Gokul stole Jose’s identity papers, and bought a smartphone and sim card in his name. Gokul used his official number to communicate with Anuradha on WhatsApp in name of Asha, an astrologer. He opened an email id in Asha’s name, and advised her to go in for a legal separation. Gokul also consulted an advocate for divorce. [Times of India]
- Anuradha got a message from Asha that she should consume as much alcohol as possible for a special puja. Gokul confessed that on July 28, he bought liquor, which Anuradha consumed. [Times of India]
- Gokul had gone to the extent of planting a Muslim skull cap and a knife in Jose’s house to portray him as a supporter of radical Islam, police sources said. [Indian Express]
- Jose’s wife and Gokul’s college friend has volunteered to take care of Gokul’s daughter. Gokul has taken so much risk for me so I don’t want to cheat him and I will look after his daughter along with both my children. [Bangalore Mirror]
A Bengaluru-based techie, who was having an affair with his friend’s wife, was the one who made hoax bomb calls to delay six international flights (9W078 of Jet Airways to Hong Kong, CX694 of Cathay Pacific also bound for Hong Kong and LX147 of Swiss Air to Zurich) at Kempe Gowda International Airport in Bengaluru and the Delhi airport, on Saturday.
MG Gokul, 33, who was arrested on Monday, wanted to frame Saju Joseph, his paramour’s husband. According to CNN IBN, Gokul stole Joseph’s passport and brought a SIM card in his name. Gokul then created a Facebook page in Joseph’s name and made him an ISIS follower, in order to attract the attention of cyber crime police.
When this didn’t work, Gokul informed the Bengaluru and Delhi airports about threat to three flights, through calls and WhatsApp messages.
There is no angle of terrorism in this case prima facie. It is a serious matter. Gokul is from Kerala, but a resident of Bengaluru. We came to know that the accused’s wife died in mysterious circumstances, we are probing this case.
— Bengaluru Police Commissioner NS Megharikh.
Gokul reportedly confessed about assaulting his wife Anuradha following which she died, a few months back.