Crime Branch set to re-investigate infamous 42-year-old Chacko murder case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch is preparing to re-investigate the infamous Chacko murder case. The move is part of a secret investigation. The investigation team led by IG Ajitha Begum is re-examining the case to unravel the mystery of one of Kerala's most notorious crimes.

Sukumara Kurup brutally murdered Chacko, an employee of a film distribution company, on January 21, 1984. This murder took place at Kollakadavu near Chengannur, Alappuzha. After strangling Chacko in his car, Kurup set the car on fire.

The plan was to extort Rs 30 lakh as insurance money by falsely claiming death. However, the police investigation turned everything upside down. Two of Sukumara Kurup's aides who helped him in the murder were arrested. They were sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the police failed to locate Kurup, who went at large and evaded arrest. Rumours, books and even motion pictures appeared portraying the life of Kurup. Despite all this, Kurup remained in the dark.

In 2022, it was revealed that Sukumara Kurup was seen in Himantnagar, Gujarat and Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Renseem Ismail, the manager of a beverage shop in Pathanamthitta, suspected that it was Kurup with whom he had been friends 15 years ago in Himantnagar. The police then conducted an investigation, but to no avail.