THRISSUR: BJP Thrissur district office secretary Tirur Satheesh said that he had booked the room for RSS workers Dharmarajan, driver Shamjeer and helper Rashid at a lodge on the instructions of the leaders. Earlier, the lodge employee had stated that he had received a call from the BJP district office regarding the room. Satheesh said that he had booked the room for Dharmarajan and his associates on April 2 at the tourist home on Thrissur MG Road. The room was booked on the instructions of the district leaders. It was not known for whom the rooms were for. He told the police that he joined as the office secretary four months ago.

Satheesh said that he did not know Dharmarajan and Sunil Naik and that he had no connection with the state leaders. He was released after questioning for two and a half hours from 10.30 am.

Earlier, the district leaders had claimed that the party and its leaders had nothing to do with the money or the heist. After recording the statement of the office secretary, the police have concluded that the leaders knew about the money.

BJP district treasurer Sujay Senan's friend and business partner Prashant, who was earlier questioned, was also questioned at the police club for more than two hours in the afternoon. Leaders, including the state organizing secretary, will be questioned again. Information was collected from more than 70 people, including the accused and their relatives.

Police raided the houses of 12 accused in Kozhikode and Kannur to recover more money from the robbers. However, they were not able to find the money. So far Rs 1.28 crore has been seized. The complaint was that Rs 25 lakh was stolen.

OBC Morcha state vice president suspended

OBC Morcha state vice president Rishi Palppu was suspended from BJP primary membership for coming up with a Facebook post raising allegations against the party's district leaders in connection with the hawala case. BJP state president K Surendran informed that action was taken against Rishi for carrying out anti-party activities. Meanwhile, Rishi filed a complaint at the police station stating that he received death threats from the BJP leaders. The complaint was filed against BJP district general secretary KR Hari.