Uthra murder: Report against Anchal CI

Kollam: The Kollam Rural SP has submitted a report to the DGP listing lapses on the part of Anchal circle inspector C L Sudheer in the primary stages of the investigation into the Uthra murder case.
There were widespread protests over circle inspector’s lapses in collecting evidences against Sooraj, the victim’s husband, even when Uthra’s relatives raised doubt about the snakebite death.
A crime branch team led by DySP A Ashokan also had cited the circle inspector’s lapses. Many political parties had conducted marches and dharna demanding action against the circle inspector.
Complaints galore against CI
In another incident involving alleged dishonouring of a body, there were widespread complaints against Sudheer.
Sunil, 34, of Idamulakkal and his wife Sujini were found dead in their house on June 3. The postmortem was to be done in Parippally Medical College. In view of the Covid-19, the autopsy of Sunil was to be conducted in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. As the relatives took the body to Anchal police station, they were asked to bring the body to circle inspector’s residence at Kadakkal to sign the inquest report to facilitate postmortem .
However, the CI said he had gone to his house to have food and in order to avoid delay in case of having to return to the police station that he asked for bringing the body to his residence.
Congress, BJP and CPI workers had organised protest demanding the immediate suspension of the circle Inspector.
Uthra’s 15 sovereigns of gold sold
Uthra’s husband Sooraj has told police that he had sold 15 sovereigns of gold and spent the money to meet his expenses. Uthra’s gold was sold to a jeweller at Adoor. A crime branch team conducted evidence gathering at the jewellery. As Sooraj was apprehensive of police nabbing him in connection with the murder he had handed over the gold to his father’s sister. As she was reluctant to keep it with her she returned the same and Sooraj buried the gold on house premises. Police recovered 38.5 sovereigns. Twenty-one sovereigns had been mortgaged to buy autorickshaw for Sooraj’s father.
When 10 sovereigns were found in bank locker, six sovereigns were found mortgaged in the same bank.
He told the police that he used the money for boozing and to meet his other expenses. Sooraj will be produced in the court on Monday after the completion of 14 days’ police custody. Forest officials will claim the custody of Sooraj and snake charmer Suresh of Chavarkode.