Hashif arrested in Pappachan murder case has no role in killing him

KOLLAM: Saritha, the bank manager and executive Anoop lured Pappachan, a retired BSNL employee, after promising high interest. Their first aim was the business growth of their bank.

The two started extorting money from Pappachan following their greed to make money. The two dreamt to live comfortably with the lakhs cheated from Pappachan. However, unexpectedly, all the evidences were collected and the police came in search of them.

In February 2023, Pappachan came unexpectedly to the private bank in the city where Saritha was the manager, with Rs 36 lakhs. After talking to Pappachan, she realized that he has Rs 90 lakhs with him. One day when Pappachan woke up, he saw Saritha and Anoop in front of his house. The aim of the two was promotion after raising more investments. After being told that he would be paid more interest, Pappachan agreed to withdraw the money deposited in other financial institutions. He deposited Rs 76 lakhs in various stages.

Saritha and Anoop, who decided to cheat Pappachan, tactfully grabbed three blank cheques from him. Annop and Saritha, using the cheque first took a loan of Rs 5 lakh and then Rs 6 lakh. After that, they withdrew Rs 14 lakh of Pappachan from another bank. They later made him believe that this amount was invested as two fixed deposits and then stole the money. They gave him a temporary receipt. They later withdrew and extorted Rs 25 lakh deposited in another bank. The preliminary conclusion is that the two embezzled around Rs 50 lakhs.

When Pappachan demanded monthly interest and account statement, a verbal dispute broke out between them. Realizing that he was deceived, Pappachan lodged a complaint with the authorities of the financial institution.

Saritha and Anoop lost their job on Pappachan's complaint. In the meantime, Pappachan kept on calling the two for money. With this, Saritha called Animon, who had previously worked with her in another organization. Saritha told Animon that a man should be killed and that his son himself had given the quotation. Convinced Animon that the miserly father is not giving any property to his son, a friend of the former.

On May 18, Saritha summoned Animon to Ashramam. Animon, who took the quotation sought the help of his friend Maheen. The two planned to kill him after hitting him with an auto. The two drove around Pappachan's house in an auto on several days. Pappachan stayed at home due to the heavy rains.

In a fit of rage, Saritha called Animon on May 22. She asked whether he can commit the act or else she would hire somebody else. She demanded to return the money paid as advance. Then she asked him to organize a car instead of the auto. She then said that she would somehow bring Pappachan to Ashramam. Animon then borrowed a car from his friend Hashif and reached Ashramam on May 23. Pappachan after believing Saritha reached Ashramam on his cycle, hoping to get money. Anoop joined Pappachan in between on his bike. As soon as Pappachan came near the car, Anoop sped forward.

When Animon fatally knocked down Pappachan, Maheen, who was waiting in an auto on the other side of the road, gathered people and then rushed him to the hospital.
The initial quotation amount fixed was Rs 2 lakh. Animon later took Rs 18.5 lakh from Anoop and Saritha several times in the name of conducting the case.

Hashif, who is not involved in the murder, got himself trapped in the case. After learning that the accident was a quotation, Hashif threatened Saritha and took three lakhs several times. He threatened her saying that he is standing in the police station and would go and reveal the incident.

After Pappachan's daughter filed a complaint on suspicion of the death, the police interrogated Animon but did not get any clue. When Animon's call records were examined, it was found that Saritha had called him many times. Shortly after checking Animon's bank records, it was found that Saritha had transferred Rs 50,000. When Animon's call records of his old phone number were examined, it was found that he was constantly in touch with Saritha and Anoop.

Pappachan was very fond of bicycles. Even though he was very old, he would cycle any distance.