Seven deaths in Koodathil family: Former caretaker arrested in murder case

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 14 : The arrest of former caretaker Ravindran Nair in connection with the alleged murder of Jayamadhavan Nair, the last surviving heir of the Koodathil family in Karamana, has brought renewed attention to the mysterious deaths of seven family members over several years and suspicions of a conspiracy to gain control of their valuable properties.

The Crime Branch suspects that Jayamadhavan was murdered in 2017 to secure control over the family's assets. Investigators are examining a disputed will that allegedly contains a forged signature. The arrest follows years of investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and suspected irregularities in the transfer of the family's properties.

Jayamadhavan died on April 2, 2017. The case was initially registered as an unnatural death but was later converted into a murder case after forensic findings raised doubts about the circumstances of his death. The investigation was subsequently taken over by the District Crime Branch.

Investigators suspect that Ravindran may have had a motive to eliminate Jayamadhavan, as the latter's plans to marry could have affected the disputed will and the proposed transfer of the family's properties. A forensic examination reportedly found that the signature on the document was forged.

The probe also revealed inconsistencies in the claim that Jayamadhavan had sustained fatal injuries in an accidental fall. Investigators examined medical evidence relating to his head injuries and a bloodstained wooden piece recovered from behind the house.

An autorickshaw driver, who was reportedly involved in transporting Jayamadhavan to hospital, allegedly admitted to giving a false statement after being promised money, sources said. Scientific investigation, including brain mapping, was also conducted as part of the efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.

The Koodathil family owned extensive properties in and around Thiruvananthapuram. The deaths of seven family members — Gopinathan Nair, his wife Sumukhi Amma, their children Jayashree, Jayabalakrishnan and Jayaprakash, and relatives Unnikrishnan Nair and Jayamadhavan — had raised questions about the fate of the family's inheritance.

Complaints filed by a local activist and a relative of the family led to renewed scrutiny of the deaths and alleged irregularities in property transfers.

Investigators are continuing to examine the evidence in the murder case and establish whether there are links between the deaths and the suspected property conspiracy.