A crucial blood-stained towel, considered key evidence in the murder case of NDF activist Mohammed Fazal, was recovered after being reported missing from the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court.The towel, allegedly planted near an RSS worker's house to falsely implicate him, was part of the prosecution's case.The Special CBI Court called for the evidence during the trial, but the CJM Court initially claimed it was missing from its sealed custody.Sources revealed the towel was reportedly damaged by rodents, leading to a search by the CBI.The court has postponed the case to August 4.Fazal, a 30-year-old NDF activist, was hacked to death near a mosque in Thalassery in 2006.

The CBI investigation, initiated after the Kerala High Court directed it due to alleged police lapses, named eight CPI(M) members, including a Thalassery MLA, as accused.The case highlights issues of evidence handling and judicial transparency in high-profile trials.