Published Nov 14, 2026 | 4:23 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 14, 2026 | 4:23 PM
Gurumurthy was arrested in Ottappalam in Palakkad.
Synopsis: On Saturday, 14 November, police took him into custody in connection with the arson at the 12th-century Kavumbhagam Synagogue in Kochi on 12 October. Investigators reportedly received information suggesting that Gurumurthy was associated with the group that allegedly directed Ebin Paul, the man who has been arrested for arson.
The police in Keralam have launched a probe into a suspected link Gurumurthy, allegedly an associate of the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, had with the group behind the arson at a synagogue in Kochi.
Police arrested 27-year-old Gurumurthy, a Tamil Nadu native, in Ottappalam, Palakkad, on Thursday, 12 November, where he had been working at a shop.
Investigators suspect Gurumurthy might have recce’d Bollywood stars and clicked pictures for the Bishnoi gang.
On Saturday, 14 November, police took him into custody in connection with the arson at the 12th-century Kavumbhagam Synagogue in Kochi on 12 October. Investigators reportedly received information suggesting that Gurumurthy was associated with the group that allegedly directed Ebin B Paul, the man who has been arrested for arson.
Police arrested Ebin Paul after a nursery outside Kochi’s synagogue was set ablaze.
The case has drawn attention to a possible link with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, though investigators have not publicly established any such connection so far.
Police have also found that Gurumurthy established contact with the Bishnoi gang through social media. Authorities will interrogate him at an undisclosed location.
The interrogation is expected to focus on his alleged links with the criminal underworld and the extent of his involvement in the network.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) may also question him as part of the probe.
Police said further details about his connections and activities would emerge only after the interrogation.
On Friday, police invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Gurumurthy.
Police later produced him before a court and remanded him to judicial custody.
A native of Tamil Nadu, Gurumurthy had a registered address in Bharath Khandivelly West, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
He had been living and working in and around Ottappalam for several months and was employed at a shop in Thrikkangode.
He reportedly worked there for around four months.
The case was registered at the Thrissur East police station on Thursday following intelligence inputs that people suspected of having links with the Bishnoi gang were operating from within the state.
Police said the cyber division had been tracking suspected associates of the gang for the past few weeks.
Investigators found that Gurumurthy had allegedly been communicating with members of the network based in Haryana and Mumbai through social media and encrypted messaging applications, including Telegram.
His online activities reportedly raised suspicion about his links with the gang.
The case has been registered under Section 18 of the UAPA, which covers conspiracy, attempts and facilitation of terrorist acts.
Police have alleged that the accused was in contact with groups considered a threat to national security and are examining whether the communication involved any activity aimed at disturbing the country’s unity and peace.
However, officials have not disclosed specific details of Gurumurthy’s alleged role or the evidence gathered against him.
They said further interrogation was necessary to establish whether he had any operational or other involvement with the gang.
A special investigation team led by Thrissur City Assistant Commissioner TR Rajesh carried out the arrest.
Police also investigated the establishment in Thrikkangode where Gurumurthy had been employed.
The Thrissur City Police have sought assistance from the Kerala Anti-Terrorist Squad and plan to approach the court for his custody for further questioning.
Details of the arrest are also expected to be shared with central agencies.
The Bishnoi gang has been linked to several murder and extortion cases.
Police are now examining whether Gurumurthy’s alleged online contacts were limited to communication or point to a deeper association with the network.
Meanwhile, police have not confirmed whether Gurumurthy had any links with the gang members allegedly involved in the recent attack on actor Tiger Shroff, and said the nature of his association with the Bishnoi network was still being investigated.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
