Mohammed Nisham, the Kerala businessman accused of ramming a security guard with his Hummer
A prime witness in the case against a Kerala billionaire accused of ramming a security guard with his Hummer nine months ago has changed his statement dramatically.
Mohammed Nisham, a beedi tycoon, is on trial for the murder of security guard K Chandrabose in January after an argument at a posh residential township in Thrissur where he owns an apartment. Another guard Anoop had told the police then that he had seen the fight, which made him an important witness.
As the trial began on Monday at a court in Thrissur, however, Anoop turned hostile and said he had not witnessed the alleged fight between Mr Nisham and the guard. He also claimed that it was Chandrabose who was the aggressor, and that the businessman acted in self-defense.
However, Anoop again did a U-turn on his statement on Tuesday. He testified against the businessman and claimed that he was witness to the series of incidents as claimed by the police.
Public Prosecutor Advocate Udayabhanu has claimed that Anoop turned hostile because of the severe pressure he was facing from the accused businessman Muhammad Nisham's brother.
In January, Mr Nisham allegedly drove his Hummer into the guard, who was reportedly late by a few seconds to let him through the entrance to his gated neighbourhood. Mr Nisham then allegedly got out of the car and used an iron rod to hit the man, who died later in hospital.
Mr Nisham's lawyers have said the murder was not premeditated and was an accident.
Besides his tobacco business, Mr Nisham owns property businesses in the Middle East.
Two years ago, Mr Nisham's nine-year-old son was filmed while driving their Ferrari in their neighbourhood, resulting in a police case after the video was uploaded on YouTube by Mr Nisham and his wife.