Kochi: The investigation into the mysterious deaths of Central GST Additional Commissioner Manish Vijay (43), his sister Shalini Vijay (49), and their mother Shakunthala Agarwal (77) is now set to expand to Jharkhand.  

Shalini, a deputy collector, had received a summons from the Jharkhand CBI Special Court on February 15, requiring her to appear in a case related to her recruitment. Around the same time, Manish had taken leave, informing colleagues that he needed to travel to Jharkhand regarding his sister’s legal matter. However, when he failed to return to duty after his leave expired, his colleagues initiated an inquiry.  

The Jharkhand-based family was found dead inside the Central Excise Quarters in Kakkanad. Their autopsies are scheduled for Saturday, following the arrival of Manish’s younger sister, Priya Ajay, from Abu Dhabi.  

Inside the residence, Shakunthala’s body was found lying on the bed, covered with a white cloth and surrounded by flower petals. Police recovered bills for flowers regularly purchased by the family, dated February 14. Reports suggest they frequently performed rituals and pujas at home and had minimal contact with the outside world.  

Previously, Manish and his family lived at the Customs Staff Villa in Kozhikode Beach when he served as Customs Preventive Joint Commissioner in Kozhikode. About a month and a half ago, they moved to Central Excise Quarters No. 114 in Kakkanad after his transfer to Kochi. The family was not believed to be facing any financial difficulties. Manish’s father, UC Vijay, had passed away several years ago.  

Shakunthala, a chronic diabetes patient, required insulin. On February 20, Manish had asked his driver to pick up his mother for a doctor’s appointment. However, when the driver was unable to reach him despite multiple attempts, he went directly to the quarters—only to make the grim discovery.  

During the investigation, police found 10 sovereigns of gold ornaments on Shakunthala’s body and inside the house. They also found charred papers near the kitchen stove, though their contents remain unclear.  

Jharkhand connection under scrutiny
Shalini Vijay, who secured the top rank in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) exam, was reportedly deeply troubled by the controversies surrounding the rank list. Allegations of widespread manipulation in both the written examination and interview process suggested that political leaders and top bureaucrats had influenced the selection process to favour certain candidates.  

The Jharkhand police initially investigated the matter before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over. Twelve years later, in November last year, the CBI filed a charge sheet against 60 individuals, including the JPSC chairman.  

According to sources in the Jharkhand government, Shalini had gone on leave two years ago and never returned to duty. She had prepared for the exam entirely on her own, without attending coaching classes. The CBI charge sheet, submitted last year, highlighted multiple irregularities in the recruitment process.  

The family's deaths come at a crucial time, just as legal proceedings in the case were set to begin. In light of this, a Kerala police team is preparing to travel to Jharkhand in the coming days to investigate further.