PANDALAM: The 'deceased' Sabu (Sakkayi-35), son of late Kunjumon of Poozhikkad Vila in Kudasanad, returned yesterday. Sabu's family and friends who attended his 'funeral' at St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, Kudasanad on December 30, are stunned by Sabu's arrival. Sabu was taken into police custody yesterday itself in connection with the theft case. Sabu, the accused in cases, didn't maintain closeness with home.

On the morning of December 25, a young man was killed after he was hit by an unidentified vehicle at Bharanaganam's Edappadi in Pala. The family, who didn't have any info about Sabu for a long time, saw the photo of the dead youth in the newspaper and became suspicious. Upon reaching Pala, mother Ammini and relatives 'identified' the body.

His wife suspected that the body did not belong to Sabu, but others said they were sure.

Sabu appeared yesterday, months after the body released by the police was cremated.

At 8 in the morning, he reached the Kayamkulam private bus stand to meet his friend bus driver Muraleedharan Nair. He came to know about his 'death' from Muraleedharan. Sabu said he was working in the canteen of a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram and could not contact anyone as his phone was damaged. Muraleedharan Nair took to WhatsApp about Sabu's return and the natives came to know about it. The relatives contacted the Pandalam police. At around 3 pm, friends took Sabu to the Pandalam police station from Kayamkulam. During the police investigation, it was found that Sabu is guilty of stealing Rs 46,000 from a hotel near Thiruvananthapuram Medical College where he worked and was accused in several theft cases. He was handed over to the police officials that came from Thiruvananthapuram.

Body will be exhumed and investigated

Adoor DySP B Vinod and Pandalam CI S Sreekumar said that some people from Jharkhand had inquired after seeing the news of accident in Pala on December 25 on suspicion that it could be a Jharkhand native. Blood was collected for DNA testing but no further action was taken. The buried body will be taken out and further investigation will be carried out.