POLICE investigating the murder of Burnley man Michael Blakey have seized the accounts of the charity he was working for in India.

An investigation into the killing of the 23-year-old was launched last week after his body was found underneath a pile of stones in Dharamsala. Forensic tests showed he died from head injuries after being hit with a blunt instrument.

Michael, from Mayfair Road, Pike Hill, had been working for the Tong-Len charity which he helped to found two years ago along with a Tibetan monk and fellow Briton Rachel Owen, to help the region's poor.

At the weekend Additional Superintendent Santosh Patial confirmed that the charity's computer had been seized in order to examine its finances.

Superintendent Patial said: "We are looking into the accounts. We cannot rule out the possibility of misappropriation of the charity's funds. If money had been taken out and Michael found out, that would be a motive for the murder."

Speculation as to the reason for Michael's death have been rife in Dharamsala. One theory that police are also investigating is that he was killed in a crime of passion.

Police said Rachel Owen's Indian husband Pawan Bhardwaj has been repeatedly questioned as he has admitted that he was jealous of the close working relationship between 35-year-old Rachel and Michael.

Nursing graduate Rachel has said she was certain of her husband's innocence.

Superintendent Patial said: "We found diary entries in Michael's computer where he writes he was being threatened by Pawan Bhardwaj.

"During interrogation Pawan Bhardwaj admitted that he was jealous of his wife's friendship with Michael, but denied an affair between the two of them."

The 28-year-old, who works as a project worker for Tong-Len, was released from his police interview at the weekend, but police said he will be questioned again.

Tributes to Michael have flooded in to websites and numerous memorial events have been held in India.

A funeral is expected to be held later this week.