THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is now reported that Savad, the first accused in the hand-chopping case of Professor T J Joseph deceived his wife’s family and the mosque with a fake identity. Savad identified himself as Shahjahan and gave this name for his marriage in the mosque.

“ We came to know about his criminal background only through television” Savad’s father-in-law commented.

The marriage took place in 2016 at Kunjathur mosque in Kasaragod. Savad never submitted the documents required for marriage in the mosque. His wife’s father first met Savad at Ullal Dargah in Karnataka. Savad looked like a gentleman to his father-in-law from the very first meeting. It was later that he decided to let Savad marry his second youngest daughter. However, investigation agencies have pointed out fallacies in the statement from Savad’s father-in-law.

Savad followed a scrupulous lifestyle and made it a point not to reveal his identity to anyone. When they took a rented house, Savad submitted his wife’s document instead of his. After Savad had a second child, Asha workers came to collect details, but he sent them back saying all details were submitted to health workers in Kasaragod.

It is one Riyas who helped Savad get a job and house in the area. The investigation team is now gathering details about this man. A man named Shameer has also helped Savad during his disguised life. The investigation team is trying to figure out whether these people had any previous affiliation with the banned outfit PFI.

Savad lived in a rented house near Mattannur. It is reported that he was hiding in different areas in Kannur and Kasaragod for 13 years. Neighbours said that they had been living here for one and a half years and added that he was living with his wife and children and that they did not feel anything suspicious.