An eventful year leave Kochi police stretched

The world of crime in the district sprang back to life last year leaving the police stretched between law and order maintenance and enforcement of Covid-19 protocol

After a relatively uneventful 2020 when pandemic disrupted criminal activities as well, the world of crime in the district sprang back to life last year leaving the police stretched between law and order maintenance and enforcement of Covid-19 protocol.

, the self-styled 'antique' dealer and confidence trickster, hogged the headlines for days as he took several victims for a ride allegedly cheating them of crores besides putting the police force itself on the defensive with social media awash with images of senior officers and not less than a former State Police Chief posing with his 'antiquities.' At last count, the Crime Branch have registered 12 cases against him, including a couple of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and filed the charge sheet in four cases, Enforcement Directorate has also launched a parallel investigation on his financial dealings.

The death of a 24-year-old dental student who was near Kothamangalam in July sent shock waves across the district. Since the accused also killed himself, the Ernakulam rural police were left to arrest two from Bihar from where the accused procured the gun and a friend of the accused.