Bhagalpur, Aug. 8: The Government Railway Police (GRP) will take Chottu Sahni, the prime suspect in the Pritam Bhattacharjee murder case, on remand.

“Legal formalities are being completed for the purpose,” said Katihar superintendent of railway police Sukhan Paswan, who is monitoring investigation into the Assam youth’s murder last month. Paswan added that the police had gathered enough evidence against Chottu, a resident of Makhatakia village in Naugachia district. “The proof suggests his involvement in Pritam’s murder,” he added.

On Tuesday, a police team headed by Naugachia GRP station house officer Hari Ram took Chottu into custody when he was on way to Khagaria court to surrender. The men in khaki laid a trap outside the court following a tip-off that Chottu would surrender in the court. Paswan, however, refused to share more information saying it would hamper investigation.

Chottu, 48, was produced in the court of railway magistrate Tribhuwan Yadav, who remanded him in judicial custody for two weeks. However, Chottu denied his involvement in the case. When brought to the court for production, Chottu told reporters that he decided to surrender in the court because the police had threatened to attach his property. “The police were after me and I had no option but to surrender to escape torture,” he added.

Earlier, the members of the SIT had interrogated Chottu’s relatives — Shanker Sahni and Suresh Sahni. The duo reportedly revealed the name of Chottu, who had allegedly perpetrated the crime. “Chottu came to our residence on July 17 and admitted his involvement in the murder of Assam youth,” the two apparently told the police.

Additional director-general of police (rail) Paras Nath Roy said the real culprits would be brought to book. “We had to start from the scratch. Initially, some people with vested interests tried to mislead the police,” he added.