Paul Muthoot Dead, Paul Muthoot Died, Paul Muthoot Murdered

Paul Muthoot George, 30, son of Muthoot M George Group chairman M G George, was hacked to death around midnight on Friday. The incident took place on the Alappuzha-Changanassery road at Jyothi junction near Pongha, within the Nedumudi police station limits.

The police said that the gang which carried out the murder arrived in a tempo traveller.

It is suspected to be a case of business rivalry or a personal grudge, the police added. One friend of the deceased was also injured.

Manu, 30, Vilakam house, Petta, Thiruvananthapuram, has been admitted to the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital.

According to the police Paul and three friends, all hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, reportedly left for Alappuzha from Muthoot's Ernakulam head office around 7 pm on Friday in two SUVs - a Scorpio and a Ford Endeavour.

Paul drove his friend’s Ford Endeavour, the Scorpio was driven by driver Shibu Thomas.

They stopped at Muthoot's upcoming resort at Mararikkulam, then decided to stay at Muthoot’s rest house at Champakkulam and sent Shibu to fetch the key of the rest house from the Muthoot Cruise office at Pallathuruthy.

When Shibu returned he found that Paul and Manu had been attacked.

Two other friends who had accompanied Paul reportedly escaped from the spot in the Endeavour.

Shibu rushed the two to the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital where Paul was declared dead.
Shibu is in police custody.

The police suspect that the murder was the work of a gang according to a conspiracy hatched by the victim’s two friends who later fled.

Paul, a bachelor, was the executive director of Muthoot Group. He is survived by his father, mother Saramma, Principal, Muthoot School, Delhi and siblings George Muthoot George (executive director, Muthoot) and Alexander George Muthoot (director, Muthoot Group). Paul headed the hospitality sector of the company.

The body was handed over to relatives after an autopsy at the MCH here on Saturday afternoon.

The funeral will be held at St Mathews Orthodox Church, Kozhencherry on Sunday at 4 pm.

Prayer service will start at 3 pm in the residence.

IG of Police Vinson M Paul who visited the spot told Express that the Alappuzha DySP has been put in charge of the inquiry.