Stories
Court Grants 5-Day Police Custody of Accused in Kochi Synagogue Arson Attack
- •A Kochi court granted five days of police custody for Ebin Paul, the accused in the arson attack near a synagogue in Ernakulam Market.
- •Investigators are probing potential terror links and examining whether the attacks were carried out for payment, possibly via cryptocurrency.
- •The accused allegedly poured petrol on a nursery in front of the Kadavubhagam synagogue and recorded the act on his mobile phone.
- •Police suspect his involvement in a similar arson attack at a used car showroom in Muvattupuzha.
- •Recovered phone messages mentioned Jewish places of worship and attacks across Indian cities, prompting searches that seized various drugs.
Key Questions Answered
Ebin Paul was arrested after investigators analyzed CCTV footage and technical evidence to trace the blue car used in the October 12 attack. He drove up to the nursery near the Kadavubhagam synagogue, poured petrol, set it on fire, and filmed the incident.
Police recovered messages from the accused's phone referring to Jewish places of worship and attacks across India, with suspicions pointing to an unidentified handler known as 'Boss'. Investigators found that the attack was allegedly filmed and sent in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
During interrogation, the accused admitted to involvement in a prior arson attack at a used car showroom in Muvattupuzha. Additionally, searches of his rented house in Puthencruz led police to seize various drugs including heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, alprazolam, and ketamine.
