THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police is in trouble yet again after failing to nab Al Qassimi, (46), the former Imam of Tholicode Jamaath, accused of sexually abusing a school student, appeared with a voice message in YouTube. He had given a voice message in YouTube stating that he is innocent. He had committed a serious offence of revealing the victim’s name. However, he is on the run and the police are being criticised for it. He appeared in YouTube at a time when the police are in search of him in and out of Kerala.

A case has been registered against the imam for revealing her name. The voice message stated that the allegation levelled against him is totally baseless.

The investigating team had earlier confiscated his car from his hiding place in Ernakulam. The car subjected for forensic examination is now in the custody of the police. Though his brothers were nabbed for helping him flee and a search conducted in Bengaluru, it was of no use.

It has been hinted that he is under the protection of an organisation having close allegiance with the former. The police has obtained information that some members of the organisation has helped him financially also.

The imam has been on the run ever since he was caught by a group of Kudumbashree workers when he brought the minor girl to a deserted area near Peppara forest in is car. He managed to drop the girl at her residence before fleeing.

In the meantime, the DGP had entrusted a special team to probe the case after the high court showered criticisms on the police for not nabbing him. A 14-member team led by range IG will probe the case.