P.V. Noushad, the prime suspect in the Hemachandran murder case, has been released in police custody for five days to gather further evidence in connection with the incident. On Thursday, the special investigation team (SIT) took him to Balussery, where Hemachandran was reportedly forced to sign some financial documents after the planned abduction, which later culminated in the alleged murder.Police sources said the 33-year-old Wayanad native who was nabbed from the Bengaluru airport on his arrival from Saudi Arabia on July 6 would be taken to Cherambadi forest in Tamil Nadu, where he allegedly buried the victim’s body with the support of three close aides.They added that the police custody of his other three close aides, who were earlier arrested in connection with the incident after exhuming the victim’s body, would also be sought as part of the investigation.It was on June 28 that the police cracked the case which was initially registered as a case of man missing at the Kozhikode Medical College police station. The SIT formed by District Police Chief T. Narayanan zeroed in on the suspects with the support of the Kozhikode City cyber cell and crime squad. Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun K. Pavithran was also part of the investigation. Published - July 10, 2025 08:18 pm IST