Kerala Home Minister asks Crime Branch to verify reports that fugitive Sukumara Kurup is alive

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala Photo Credit: RK Nithin

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Friday (28 Aug 2026) said reports that fugitive Sukumara Kurup was still alive were “only rumours” and ordered the crime branch to verify their veracity.

Kurup is wanted in connection with the 1984 murder of Chacko in Mavelikara, allegedly as part of a plan to fake his own death and claim a life insurance payout. Despite several investigation teams trying to track him down since then, Kurup has remained on the run.

The case was also adapted into the Malayalam film Kurup starring Dulquer Salmaan.

Recently there have been reports that Kurup is living and living in Brunei under a different name and using a different passport.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Chennithala said the case is currently being investigated by the crime branch and has been classified as long pending (LP).

“I have assigned crime branch to ADGP Venkatesh to investigate. Kerala police need to contact Interpol and find out the real truth about the whole matter. At this point we have only rumours. These are not verified facts,” he said.

He said every effort would be made to establish the facts.

“The crime branch will collect the details and will inform as soon as they receive them,” he said.

Mr. Chennithala also denied the retired police officer’s claim that he had submitted a report to the authorities that Kurup was still alive and in constant touch with his relatives in Kerala.

He said the case took place when Vayalar Ravi was the Home Minister of Kerala.

“It’s been about 40 years. What needs to be suppressed? In any case, let the investigation continue and the truth will come out. We don’t know yet whether it’s true or false. In any case, the government has initiated the necessary steps,” he said.

Published – 28 Aug 2026 09:56 IST