Thiruvananthapuram: The investigation into the murder of Harihara Varma has been handed over to the Crime Branch.
Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has given the directions on it to DGP K S Balasubramanyam.
Varma, 59, who according to reports was a member of the Mavelikara royal family, was on December 24 found dead here. Three people had come from Chennai to buy diamonds reportedly worth Rs.300 crore from Varma.
The meeting was fixed at a house of Varma's daughter, where no one lived. During negotiation the three attacked Varma and Haridas, his close associate and applied chloroform on them.
Haridas told police that once he regained consciousness, he found Varma dead and the precious stones worth Rs.300 crore missing. He immediately alerted the police.
The criminals decamped with the precious diamonds and also took away their mobile phones.
Meanwhile, some members attached to the Mavelikara royal family have expressed ignorance on the status of Varma and said he does not belong to the royal family.