Hidden evidence unearthed in Kodanad case, police tell Madras HC

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu police on Friday informed the Madras High Court that it has unearthed several covered accidental deaths and furthermore hidden evidence in the Kodanad heist-cum-murder case.

State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah made this submission before Justice N Venkatesh of Madras High Court.

The judge was hearing a petition filed by Walayar Manoj, one of the accused in the case. The petitioner sought direction to the police for expediting the investigation in the Kodanad heist and murder case that unfolded in April 2017.

However, the PP submitted that SIT headed by R Sudhakar, Inspector General of Police, West Zone had found hidden information in connection with the case. Jinnah further prayed before the judge not to pass an order to fix a time frame to complete the probe.

Recording the submission of the PP, Justice Kumar directed the SIT to furnish a status report explaining the status of the investigation in the case which had shaken the State.

It is noted that about 230 people have been probed in the case, including several high-profile names ranging from former CM J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala, her nephew Vivek Jayaraman, former AIADMK MLA VC Arukutty, Marudhu Alaguraj, a former editor of AIADMK’s mouthpiece Namadhu MGR and Jaya’s personal secretary K Poongundran.

The matter was posted on September 16.

It is noted that on April 24, 2017, several valuables and documents were allegedly robbed by unknown people after murdering the security guards from the Kodanad Bunglaw of former CM Jayalalithaa. While police launched the probe, mysterious accidental deaths had occurred and subsequently, police arrested several accused in the case.