Is Sukumara Kurup alive? Kerala orders probe into fugitive’s reported whereabouts
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed the Crime Branch to verify reports that Sukumara Kurup is alive and living abroad under another identity.
PTI
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Kurup has been wanted since the 1984 murder of Chacko in a case allegedly linked to a plan to fake his own death for an insurance payout (Kerala Police)
Kochi, Aug 28
Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Friday said reports that fugitive Sukumara Kurup is still alive were only rumours and directed the Crime Branch to verify their veracity.
Kurup is wanted in connection with the 1984 murder of Chacko in Mavelikara, allegedly as part of a plan to fake his own death and claim a life insurance payout.
Despite several investigation teams attempting to trace him since then, Kurup has remained absconding.
The case was also adapted into a Malayalam film, "Kurup", starring Dulquer Salmaan in the titular role.
Recently, reports surfaced claiming that Kurup is alive and living in Brunei under a different name and using another passport.
Speaking to reporters, Chennithala said the case is currently being investigated by the Crime Branch and has been classified as a Long Pending (LP) case.
"I have instructed ADGP Crime Branch Venkatesh to investigate. The Kerala Police needs to contact Interpol and find out the actual truth of the matter. Right now, what we have are just rumours. These are not verified facts," he said.
He said all efforts would be made to ascertain the facts.
"The crime branch will gather the details and inform as soon as they are received," he said.
Chennithala also denied a claim by a retired police officer that he had submitted a report to the authorities stating that Kurup was still alive and in constant touch with his relatives in Keralam.
He said the case occurred when Vayalar Ravi was the Home Minister of Keralam.
"It has been around 40 years now. What is there to suppress? In any case, let the investigation proceed, and the truth come out. We don't know yet whether this is true or false. In any case, the government has initiated the necessary actions," he said.
Meanwhile, after news reports carrying a photograph of a person identified as Damodhar Menon and claiming that he was the fugitive Sukumara Kurup emerged, officials of the Kerala Police intelligence wing, State Special Branch, visited his house in Thrissur.
Menon, who has been living abroad for around 40 years, is currently in Brunei, officials said.
The reports also carried details of his passport, which was last renewed in 2019.
State Special Branch officials spoke to Menon's relatives in Thrissur and later contacted him.
"Prima facie, the photograph is not that of Kurup. We will submit a report to the higher authorities. We will look into all aspects," an officer told reporters.
Menon's relatives also confirmed that the photographs carried by the media were of him.
They said Menon had worked in Pune and Malaysia before moving to Brunei.
A relative said Menon last visited Keralam in 2000 and has remained in regular contact with the family.
"He is currently bedridden due to illness. We spoke to him after learning that he was unwell," the relative said, urging the media to stop linking Menon with Kurup.
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