Accused in Keralam synagogue arson case slapped with UAPA, larger conspiracy suspected: police

The Kochi City police probing the alleged arson attack on the premises of the 800-year-old Kadavumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam, Keralam, have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Ebin Paul, the accused in the case.

District Police Chief (Kochi City) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar told the media on Friday that the accused had been charged under Sections 15 and 18 of the anti-terror law, which deal with offences relating to a terrorist act and conspiracy, respectively.

The anti-terror law was invoked in the case considering the sensitive nature of the location he targeted, according to Mr. Mahesh Kumar.

More persons suspected to be involved

The officer said investigators suspect that more persons were involved in the crime. “We suspect that the instructions were given to the accused by other persons. He has received some payments in cryptocurrency. We have also recovered videos of him recceing the location and practising the crime. A larger conspiracy behind the incident is suspected,” he said.

He said Mr. Paul was involved in three arson incidents in Ernakulam district and investigators had found that he had targeted locations outside the district too.

He said the police would propose an investigation by the State Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) into the case and that the National Investigation Agency might take over the probe if required. He said the ATS and central investigation agencies had been involved in the probe since the beginning.

Mr. Paul was arrested after he allegedly set fire to a plant nursery in front of the synagogue in the Ernakulam market around 2.40 a.m. on October 12, 2026.

In a related development, the police seized suspected narcotic substances, including heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, alprazolam and ketamine, from Mr. Paul’s house in Puthencruz during a search, according to the police.