Thodupuzha: The police have charged Thiruvananthapuram native Arun Anand with the murder of a seven-year-old boy who was brutally assaulted by him late last month. They will place a report in court today. Meanwhile, the grandfather of the child has demanded another autopsy of his son, Biju, who had passed away last year. He suspects Arun's role in his' son's sudden demise, especially after the deceased boy's mother went with him soon after Biju's death.
The child died in a hospital at Kolenchery in Kerala's Ernakulam district on Saturday, nine days after being on the ventilator. Investigating officer DySP KP Jose will record the statement of the doctor who performed the autopsy.
The boy's mother, who is Arun's live-in partner, will be interrogated again. Her confidential statement is yet to be recorded by court. She might be made a witness in the case.
Night life under scanner
Meanwhile, a special branch of police has started investigating Arun’s late-night outings with the woman. They are also looking into the possibility of Arun, known to have links to drug racket, using the woman as a decoy in his drug deals. Some stuff found in his car has also raised suspicion.
Arun and the woman would lock up the children alone at home and leave at 11pm in their car and return by 5am. Woman drove the car since Arun would be drunk. Police have seen them on several occasions on night patrol. Their CCTV images are also available.
Arun used to visit a bar in Thodupuzha town in Idukki district along with the woman at night and quarrelled frequently. The police also knew of an instance where he slapped her.
The police had recovered a new axe and a liquor bottle from the car. Two large pressure cookers, a bucket and a stone were found in the dickey. The forensic department is examining blood stains from the car, which is in Thodupuzha Police’s custody.
Arun's accomplices in Thodupuzha are also on police radar. A private tourist bus owner here was close to Arun and used to drink with him frequently. He had financial dealings with Arun.
Demand for another autopsy
Demand for another autopsy of the child’s father is gaining momentum. Biju died on May 23, 2018 at his wife’s house in Udumbannoor. Autopsy report said he died of a cardiac arrest. His father Babu said Biju had no health issues.
Babu had approached the CMO seeking a reinvestigation. Though it was forwarded to the DGP, the district police have not received any orders.
Biju was buried on a 5-cent private cemetery near the ancestral house in Neyyatinkara, Thiruvananthapuram. Biju’s wife wanted to go with Arun on the third day of his death, Babu had claimed recently.
He said wife’s adamancy to go with Arun and the abuse her children faced from him create suspicions on Biju’s death.
Arun is Babu’s nephew.
Younger boy’s custody sought
Biju’s parents have sought the custody of the dead boy's 4-year-old brother from his mother. Babu has approached Idukki District Child Welfare Committee for the same.
Both him and his retired-teacher wife have pensions that are enough to look after the child well, he says in the application.
Babu’s daughter is a doctor in Riyadh. She had offered to take care of the children when Biju died. But their mother had opposed this. The application has been forwarded to Thiruvananthapuram District Child Welfare Committee to ascertain Babu’s financial capability.
