Probe into mysterious deaths in Koodathil family at standstill, governor seeks report

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There has been no progress in the police investigation into the mysterious death of seven people of the Koodathil family in Karamana with land assets worth Rs 500 crore in several places here, including near the Secretariat. The investigation seems to have stopped, following which the family members filed a complaint with the governor. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan then directed the DGP to inform about the progress of the investigation. The family has also approached the Chief Minister seeking a CBI probe.

Gopinathan Nair, his wife Sumukhiyamma, sons Jayashree, Jayabalakrishnan and Jayaprakash, sons of Gopinathan Nair's elder brothers Narayanapilla and Velupilla, Jayamadhavan Nair and Unnikrishnan Nair of Koodathil Tharavad died under mysterious circumstances between 1991-2017. The investigation found that the death of Jayamadhavan Nair, who died in April 2017, was a murder. It was his ex-wife who requested a CBI investigation.

Apart from the mysterious deaths, there is also a case of land grabbing. The investigation also found that the wills and documents were forged in the names of all the deceased. The crime branch also found that people including former collector Mohandas, a distant relative of the family, took their property. The caretaker, including Raveendran Nair, was made an accused, but no further action was taken. The top brass in the police force have also taken over land worth crores.

There are 10 accused, including the former collector, in the land scam. The family members complained that more than eight acres of property was taken illegally. It is alleged that political, police and bureaucratic collusion is the reason why the investigation has stopped.

Land sold 28 times

The police had found that land worth crores owned by the Koodathil family was sold 28 times. All 13 buyers were found. This was with the connivance of 4 village officers. The caretaker got one and a half acres and the former caretaker got 65 cents. The land was seized through the Adalats by creating a rights dispute case.