Kerala: Three suspects arrested in Kozhikode serial murder case

The Crime Branch of Kerala has arrested three people in connection with serial murders of six family members allegedly carried out in Kerala's Kozhikode since 2002. The Police team has arrested Jolly Shaju, the prime suspect, along with two of her partners M.S. Mathew and P. Prajikumar in connection with the alleged murder of six of her family members including her husband.

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Series of deaths

The woman allegedly committed a series of murders of her own family members over a period of 14 years in a bid to grab their property. Media reports claim that it all started with the mother-in-law of the accused, Annamma Thomas who reportedly collapsed soon after eating at home in 2002, followed by her father-in-law who also died in 2008 in a similar manner, thereafter her husband Roy Thomas passed away in 2011. Annamma's brother Mathew Manchadiyil, who initially expressed doubts over the deaths, too was killed under suspicious conditions in 2014. A two-year-old Alpine passed away in 2014 followed by her mother Sily Shaju in 2016, who is the sister-in-law of the accused.

Earlier, the deaths were ruled out as heart attacks, until one of the family members secretly filed a complaint against Jolly Shaju and submitted proof of secret land deals which showed the transfer of properties of the deceased in favour of Jolly Shaju. The accused was also found to be present in all the situations leading to deaths. "She has also forged some property documents to get the properties in her favour," said Kozhikode Superintendent of Police (SP), KG Simon to ANI.

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Presence of cyanide in Roy Thomas body

Though the post mortem of husband Roy Thomas found the presence of cyanide, it was declared as a case of suicide by the local police. Now the police have caught hold of MS Mathew and Prajikumar who were supplying cyanide to Jolly Shaju which has been used to conduct the murders. Mathew and Prajikumar have been employees in a jewelry shop and had access to cyanide which is used to process gold ornaments.

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There is suspicion of political party workers' involvement in the deaths who used their influence to suppress the whole plot. According to sources, the party workers have been served notice to appear before the Crime Branch team for recording their statements.

Crime Branch is further investigating the matter and has stated that her involvement in her husband's death is evident, however, more incriminating pieces of evidence are required to prove her involvement in the rest of the deaths. There is also suspicion of other family members' involvement. Jolly Shaju has re-married the husband of Sily Shaju. He was reportedly called for questioning by the crime branch and later let go; however, sources have claimed that he seemed unaffected by the death of his wife Sily Shaju and daughter Alpine Shaju.

(With ANI inputs)

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