7 members of wealthy Kerala family die over 20 years, caretaker under police lens

The latest death in the Koodathil family in Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, which took place in 2017, led to Rs 30 crore worth properties going into the hands on the family’s caretaker.

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The Kerala police have begun an investigation into the death of seven members of a family that took place over a span of 20 years. Police suspect the family’s former caretaker as having a role in the deaths for allegedly gaining control of the family property.

The seven deaths took place in a wealthy family based at Kalady in Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram. The district crime branch initiated an investigation based on complaints and have registered a case of cheating and forgery. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been constituted, which will be led by DCP Mohammad Arif.

Seven members of the Koodathil family of Uma Mandiram House from Kulathara under Karamana police station limits passed away over a span of 20 years. The latest death in the family, which took place in 2017, led to Rs 30 crore worth properties going into the hands of the family’s caretaker.

The family members – Koodam Gopinathan Nair, his wife Sumukhi Amma, daughter Jayasree, sons Balakrishnan and Jayaprakash, Gopinathan’s nephews Unnikrishnan Nair and Jayamadhavan Nair – all passed away over a period of 20 years. However, suspicions arose around the circumstances surrounding the death of Jayamadhavan, the last heir to the family assets, in April 2017. Police had told the media that Jayamadhavan had mental health issues and was thus unstable.

The deaths of Jayamadhavan and Jayaprakash were found suspicious by the police as the former family caretaker, Raveendran Nair, came into possession of the family’s property worth Rs 30 crore. Raveendran Nair is alleged to have forged Jayamadhavan’s will in the name of a trust. He was the last remaining heir in the family.

The case came to light when Jayamadhavan’s neighbour Anil Kumar filed a petition with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in 2018 stating that as there was no one to inherit the family property, it should go to the state. He had also alleged that Raveendran Nair, along with his associates, had taken over the property that should ideally go to the government. Anil Kumar had reportedly stood witness when Raveendran allegedly transferred the ownership of Jayamadhavan’s properties to his name.

Anil Kumar grew suspicious of Raveendran when he began using the bungalow at Kulathara Junction in Thiruvananthapuram as his own. Both neighbouring families had maintained close ties but lost contact once the caretakers took over the premises, said Anil Kumar to ToI.

Prasannakumari identified as a relative who also had filed a complaint with the police told TNIE that the caretaker Raveendran was allegedly present at the time when Jayaprakash fell unconscious at his residence. The relative accused Raveendran of taking Jayaprakash in an autorickshaw to the hospital and not informing any of the relatives.

The relative pointed out that both Jayaprakash and Jayamadhavan were under treatment for mental illness. She alleged that the papers proving their illness were found charred in the residence. She also alleged that Raveendran threatened her when she approached the police with a complaint.The family suspects that Jayaprakash and Jayamadhavan were murdered.

The chief minister forwarded the petition to Kerala DGP Loknath Behera, who ordered the district crime branch to probe the case.

The initial findings of the probe by the crime branch revealed that Raveendran had allegedly created a delay in taking Jayaprakash to the hospital after he fell unconscious at his residence.

The Karamana police on Saturday registered a cheating and forgery case based on the report filed by district crime branch officials.

The police are presently collecting statements from relatives of the family. Raveendran Nair’s statement will also be recorded, the police said.

Though a complaint was filed with the Chief Minister and the DGP in 2018, active probe into the case began only after the Koodathayi serial murder case involving Jolly shocked the state.