Kozhikode: Amid the probe into half-a-dozen murders in a family based at Koodathayi in Kerala's Kozhikode district, the death of a Congress activist in similar circumstances is under a cloud as he had links to Jolly Joseph, the prime suspect in the sensational serial murder case.
A police complaint has been filed over the death of Ramakrishnan, a native of Chathamnagalam in Kozhikode.
Ramakrishnan's son Rohit has filed a complaint to Kozhikode SP (Rural), seeking to probe if Jolly had any role in his father’s death. About 5.5 acres owned by the deceased was reportedly sold for Rs 55 lakh. However, there is no clarity on the money got from the sale and he died soon after the transaction.
The police suspect Jolly's role in Ramakrishnan's financial dealings with beauty parlour owner Sulekha and husband Majeed. Two officers had made gone to Ramakrishnan's home to make enquiries about this last month. Ramakrishnan's family grew suspicious after they linked the officers' visit to the recent revelations in the Koodathayi deaths.
The police are also checking the financial dealings between Jolly and the beauty parlour owner.
Ramakrishnan, who did not have any ailments, died after having lunch. On the fateful day, Ramakrishnan had lunch and went upstairs to take rest. He later came down and while he was drinking water, he collapsed and died.
All the six members of Koodathayi family also had similar deaths. All of them fell unconscious after having food and died soon after likely due to cyanide poisoining.
The Koodathayi murders were carried out from 2002 to 2016. Jolly, wife of one of the deceased Roy Thomas, reportedly told police that she had given cyanide-laced food or drink to all the six victims to eliminate them one after the another over a period of 14 years.
She was arrested last week along with two others.
CPM activist alleges cheating
Meanwhile, former CPM local secretary Manoj, who was recently expelled from the party after it was found that he had signed on the fake will, has alleged that Jolly had cheated him. The former CPM leader claimed that he had signed a blank paper and that Jolly had forged a fake will using it.
He further said that he had returned Rs 1 lakh he had taken from her.
Manoj also said that he would inform the Crime Branch on the purpose of borrowing her money.
Jolly was also accused of forging a fake will to take over the property of her first husband’s family.
No visitors in jail
Meanwhile, it has come to light that Jolly, who was arrested last week over the murders, had telephoned her brother Noby from the jail. She called him from the phone for prisoners on Monday.
She reportedly asked him to get her some clothes. However, reports said that the brother did not give a favourable reply. So far, no one has gone to the jail to meet her.
Meanwhile, the police have tasked special personnel to keep Jolly under 24-hour surveillance as she showed signs of nervous breakdown.
Medical tests were carried out on her at the district hospital on Tuesday.
