In Kollam, Kerala, a shocking murder case has emerged. Two months ago, an 82-year-old man named Pappachan died in what was initially believed to be a road accident. However, it was later discovered that his death was actually a planned murder.
Pappachan, a retired BSNL employee, lived alone in Kollam due to family disputes. He had invested 90 lakh rupees in a fixed deposit (FD) at a private bank.
Dispute with Bank Manager
Pappachan had frequent interactions with the bank manager, 45-year-old Sarita, and account executive Anoop regarding his FD. Both knew that Pappachan was living alone and had issues with his family. Some months ago, Sarita promised Pappachan higher interest on his FD but then withdrew 40 lakh rupees from it, transferring the amount to different banks without his consent.
This led to a dispute between Pappachan and Sarita. To get rid of Pappachan and claim the entire 90 lakh rupees, Sarita and Anoop hatched a cruel plan. They decided to hire a contract killer to murder Pappachan.
Hiring a Hitman
Sarita and Anoop hired a 44-year-old contract killer named Animon for the job. On May 26, as Pappachan was riding his bicycle near Ashram Ground in Kollam, a car deliberately hit him from behind. The driver fled the scene, and Pappachan died on the way to the hospital.
Police Investigation
The police suspected foul play after reviewing CCTV footage, which showed that the car hit Pappachan’s bicycle intentionally. When Pappachan’s family learned about this, they filed a complaint, prompting a deeper investigation.
The police used technology to track down the suspects. They discovered that Anoop was sharing Pappachan’s location with Animon via phone and that his friend Maheen was following Pappachan on a bike. Animon used a car belonging to Haseef Ali for the crime.
Arrests Made
After thorough questioning of Anoop and Maheen, the police arrested all five suspects, including Sarita, who masterminded the plot. They were charged under Sections 103 (murder) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and have been sent to jail.