42 years on, Sukumara Kurup mystery returns with Brunei ‘sighting’ — and a photo twist

On January 21, 1984, Sukumara Kurup allegedly smothered a stranger, placed him behind the wheel of his car, and set it ablaze in a paddy field in Alappuzha. This heinous act was purportedly committed to secure a Rs 8 lakh life insurance claim. Recently, the case, which has baffled police for decades and inspired the 2021 film Kurup, resurfaced when a television channel reported that Kurup was "sighted" in Brunei.

The news has taken the state home department by surprise, especially as the crime branch was preparing to close the case, assuming Kurup, who was in his late 30s at the time of the crime, might have died. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala stated, "There have been rumours about this. I have asked ADGP (crimes) H Venkitesh to probe into the report. The state police will approach Interpol to ascertain the facts."

Kurup, originally from Cheriyandu village in Kerala’s Alappuzha, was working at a petroleum firm in Abu Dhabi during the time of the murder. On that fateful day, he allegedly abducted and killed K J Chacko, a 31-year-old man, with the help of three accomplices, including his brother-in-law Bhaskara Pillai.

The group was searching for a victim resembling Kurup when they encountered Chacko, who had asked for a lift home. Chacko had been married just a year earlier, and his wife Santhamma was six months pregnant with their son Jithin, who, along with his mother, continues to seek justice.