NIA nabs key accused in palm chopping case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested the key and last absconding accused in a 2010 case in which a Malayalam professor's palm was chopped off by members of now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala.

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In a statement, the agency said the accused, Savad, a resident of Ashamannur in Ernakulam district who was on the run for 13 years, was nabbed from Mattannur in Kannur.

"NIA on Wednesday arrested the key and last absconding accused in Kerala's professor palm chopping case to bring its investigations in the horrendous incident to a successful culmination. Savad, who had been on the run for the last 13 years and was carrying a reward of 10 lakh for his arrest, was nabbed from Mattannur, Kannur (Kerala) following sustained efforts," the statement said.

Savad, who is the first accused in the case, was produced before an NIA court in Kochi later in the day and subsequently remanded in judicial custody till January 22.