Kodanad case: 4 taken to crime scene for probe

The accused Santhosh Sami (39), Deepu (32), Satheesan (42) and Udhayakumar (47) were brought to the Kotagiri police Station around 4 am. There they were quizzed at the scene of crime and then interrogated by Murali Rambha, SP, The Nilgiris, at the estate till 10 am. 

“They were asked to demonstrate how they committed the crime. We will not be closing the case based on these arrested. Investigation will continue,” he said. In the absence of the magistrate at Kotagiri they were produced before the judicial magistrate at Coonoor and taken to the Coimbatore Central Prison where they will be lodged in judicial custody for 15 days. 

Of the 11 accused in the case, four have been arrested. Jayalalithaa’s former driver Kanagaraj was killed in an accident at Attur on Friday night. KV Sayan, who met with an accident is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Coimbatore, leaving five more persons to be arrested by seven special teams formed by The Nilgiris District Police. Murali Rambha denied that they had any more suspects in their custody and expressed confidence that the others at large could also be detained in a day or two.

Meanwhile, the condition of one of the prime suspects Sayan (35) of Thrissur was said to be stable and that he was out of danger. In the early hours of Saturday, Sayan drove his car from Coimbatore to Thrissur with his wife Vinupriya and daughter Neethu (5) with him. Their car rammed a truck parked off the highway, leaving his wife and daughter dead on the spot. 

Sayan was rushed to a private hospital in Coimbatore. Police said that his condition was reportedly critical and a magistrate recorded his statement. 

Resident medical officer of the hospital T Sundararaj told reporters that Sayan was out of danger. 

“He could talk on Saturday but he underwent surgery late in the evening, after which he could not talk during the day on Sunday,” the police officer said. Police personnel from Kerala and Nilgiris were waiting to inquire him in connection with the accident and the Kodanad Estate dacoity, respectively. 

Dr Sundararaj refused to comment on the nature of injuries he suffered as it was a serious case that is being investigated by the police. 

A few police personnel and intelligence wing personnel were stationed there round the clock to ensure his safety, from possible threat to his life. He will be arrested on his discharge after recovery.

DMK working president MK Stalin on Sunday urged the state government to appoint an ADGP level officer to probe the Kodanad case, adding, “There is no reason to believe that local police would conduct a fair probe. Hence, the case should be handed over to an honest ADGP level officer and it should be directly monitored by the state home secretary for the truth to surface.” 

Refusing to believe that it was a case of simple theft involving wrist watches, the Leader of Opposition, in a statement, wondered why the robbers threw the watches into the river while retaining possession of the white crystal. Meanwhile, BJP’s state unit president Tamilisai Soundarrajan too called for an “expanded probe” into the matter. 

“Although it looks like an honest probe, there have been mysteries, accidents and deaths. Initially they said nothing was stolen... now they say some articles were stolen. So we seek an expanded probe,” she said.