Kerala Crime Branch to Verify New Claims on Fugitive Sukumara Kurup via Interpol
The Kerala Crime Branch has decided to verify recent claims regarding Sukumara Kurup, an infamous fugitive who has evaded law enforcement for over four decades, by sending newly surfaced information to Interpol.
What Happened
Sukumara Kurup, who has been missing since 1984, returned to public attention after the Crime Branch reopened the Long Pending (LP) case. While rumours suggested that police were considering closing the file under the assumption that Kurup had died, a Malayalam television channel aired a photograph of a man residing in Brunei, claiming it showed Kurup in hiding.
Shortly after the broadcast, Karunakaran Menon from Karumathra, near Wadakkanchery in Thrissur, disputed the report. He stated that the image broadcast by the channel was actually his brother, Damodaran Menon, who has resided in Malaysia for nearly thirty years. Separately, retired police officer Ali Akbar claimed that Kurup was living in Brunei and employed in the construction sector.
Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala described the reports asserting Kurup is alive as rumours and instructed the Crime Branch to examine their accuracy. Crime Branch Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H. Venkatesh confirmed to The Hindu that the details provided by the media outlet will be shared with Interpol, where a Red Corner Notice against Kurup remains active.
Key Highlights
- Crime Branch has referred new claims and media materials regarding Sukumara Kurup to Interpol for verification.
- A photograph presented as Kurup in Brunei was identified by a Thrissur resident as his brother living in Malaysia.
- Former police officer Ali Akbar claimed Kurup is working in Brunei’s construction industry.
- Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala termed the reports rumours and directed a formal verification.
- Police confirmed the four-decade-old case will not be closed without absolute proof of Kurup’s death.
- The case originates from the January 22, 1984 murder of Chacko to falsely claim a ₹50-lakh insurance policy.
Why This Matters
The development highlights the legal threshold required to resolve long-standing criminal cases in the state. Crime Branch ADGP H. Venkatesh stated that authorities cannot legally close the investigation unless they possess conclusive evidence confirming Kurup’s demise. The case remains one of Kerala’s most prominent investigations, having already served as the basis for three separate films: Baby’s NH 47 (1984), Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Pinneyum (2016), and Srinath Rajendran’s Kurup (2021).
What to Watch Next
Next steps in the investigation include the Crime Branch officially recording the statement of the retired investigating officer who raised claims about Kurup. Concurrently, state officials will wait for feedback from Interpol regarding the photograph and details transmitted from the news broadcast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 1984 Sukumara Kurup case about?
Kurup, then employed in Abu Dhabi, planned to fake his own death to secure a ₹50-lakh insurance payout after learning about a German fraud case. On January 22, 1984, he and his accomplices picked up a film representative named Chacko in Alappuzha, whose charred body was later discovered in a burnt car in Kunnam to stage Kurup’s demise.
Will the Kerala Police close the case?
No. Crime Branch ADGP H. Venkatesh clarified that the case will remain open until there is conclusive, verified evidence proving that Kurup is dead.
What is the status of the photograph aired by the news channel?
While the channel reported the image showed Kurup in Brunei, a resident of Thrissur identified the man in the photo as his brother, Damodaran Menon, who has lived in Malaysia for almost three decades.
Source: Reporting based on details published by The Hindu.