Kerala serial killer Jolly linked to 3 more deaths
NIT denies Jolly Joseph was employee at the institution
Kozhikode: Suspicion has now arisen over three more deaths linked to Jolly, the woman who is the prime suspect in six mysterious deaths in her family, and who is currently in judicial custody even as reports have surfaced that she was also planning to eliminate two children.
On Wednesday, Elsamma, wife of the uncle of Jolly's first husband Roy Thomas (who was murdered by Jolly with cyanide), told the media that with reports now surfacing linking Jolly to several other murders, she suspects her involvement in two deaths in her family - that of her son Sunish who died in a bike accident in 2002 and his cousin Vincent who was found hanging.
Doubts have also been raised over the death of Ramakrishnan, a Congress worker, by his son and the police has tagged this case along with the five other deaths that took place in Jolly's family between 2002 and 2016.
Superintendent of Police K.G. Simon who is leading the probe, on Wednesday said that the state police chief will decide on taking forward the scientific investigation in the matter.
"With regards to the reports of the intent of Jolly to eliminate two more children, at the moment I cannot say anything. All the murders will be investigated by separate teams," said Simon.
Jolly and her two accomplices, who helped her by supplying cyanide, have been arrested for plotting the murder of her first husband Roy Thomas and at present this is the only case that has been registered by the police probe team.
Kerala police chief Loknath Behra said he is determined to unravel the case.
"First, let us get the custody of Jolly and then things will be decided," said Behra.
The police has sought the three accused's custody for 11 days and submitted an application in a local court.
After hearing the police plea, the court reserved its orders for Thursday and the police is making elaborate arrangements to provide security when they are brought to the court on Thursday.
In a related development, a local astrologer from Kattappana in Idukki district from where Jolly originally hails, has also been reported missing.
After preliminary questioning, Jolly had told the police that she had consulted him for astrological guidance for the welfare of her present husband.
The police have also found that the will of Roy Thomas' father was forged by Jolly who was helped by local politicians and high-level revenue officials.
State Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekheran said that his department will be conducting a probe into all the revenue transactions made by Jolly and uncover any involvement of revenue officials.
Also on Wednesday, the registrar of NIT Kozhikode, Pankajakshan said that a month back police officials came to him asking him if there was an employee by the name of Jolly.
"After making detailed probe, I reported back to them that we do not have any such employee, either working as part time or full time," said Pankajakshan.
Jolly had always maintained that she was a lecturer at NIT Kozhikode.
All these mysterious deaths took place in Jolly's family while six bodies were exhumed last week.
The first in the family to die in 2002 was Thomas' wife and Jolly's mother-in-law Annamma, a retired teacher. She was followed by Jolly's father-in-law, Tom Thomas, in 2008. In 2011, their son and Jolly's husband Roy Thomas also died, followed by the death of Roy's maternal uncle, Mathew, in 2014.
A two-year-old child of Sily, a relative by marriage, died the following year, while Sily herself died in 2016.
The police began the probe into the deaths after Roy Thomas' brother, Rojo, now settled in the US, approached the Superintendent of Police and voiced his suspicions over the series of mysterious deaths.
The police have now asked Rojo to return from the US to help in the investigation.
The police have sent the exhumed remains for forensic examination. Initial reports have indicated poisoning as the cause of the deaths and they have asked the forensic officials to expedite the test results.
The National Institute of Technology here on Wednesday said Jolly Joseph, who was arrested in connection the death of her husband following consumption of cyanide-laced food, was neither a temporary or permanent employee of the institution.
"We have checked NIT records since the year 2000 and Jolly was not an employee at the institute. She was not even employed as temporary employee," NIT Registrar, Lt Col (Retd) Pankajakshan said.
The investigating officers had made a confidential visit to the campus a month ago to gather details of Jolly, who had claimed for years that she was a lecturer at the institute.
Jolly, a commerce graduate, had told her relatives and friends that she was working in the NIT and used to travel by car to the college daily.
Eight years after her first husband Roy Thomas's death following consumption of cyanide-laced food, police had arrested Jolly and two others on Saturday and started investigations into the death of five others of the family between 2002-16.
Jolly married her husband's relative Shaju in 2017.
Shaju was questioned for almost the whole day on Monday and was let off after his statement was recorded.
The investigation into the suspicious deaths in Roy's family began after his US based younger brother approached police complaining that the post mortem report had revealed traces of cyanide.
The remains of the other relatives were also exhumed for examination.
Police on Wednesday questioned a BSNL employee, Johnson, who is suspected to have provided SIM cards to the woman.
Her call details also revealed that she had made several calls to Johnson during the past few months.
Police has also approached a court here seeking custody of Jolly and two others for 11 days.
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Bantwal: Ex-soldier dies after casting vote at home
Bantwal, Apr 24: Madhava Prabhu, an 85-year-old resident of Wagga in Bantwal, exemplified unwavering commitment to his civic duty even in the face of illness.
Admitted to a private hospital here owing to his ailment, Prabhu, a former army officer and inspector of Malaria Eradication department, died without responding to treatment on Wednesday.
Amidst his illness, Prabhu was determined to exercise his right to vote, especially with the provision for home voting for those aged 85 and above.
With the doctor's permission, he left the hospital briefly to fulfil his sacred duty on Tuesday. However, fate had a cruel twist in store as Prabhu's condition worsened upon his return to the hospital.
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Tragically, he passed away today, leaving behind his wife, two daughters, and sons.
Prabhu's life epitomizes dedication and service, from his tenure in the army to his role in the Malaria Eradication Department and his involvement in community affairs as vice president of the Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society.
His commitment to duty and his final act of voting serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of civic engagement, even in the most challenging circumstances.
