Sukumara Kurup

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Sukumara Kurup
Sukumara Kurup before 1984.png
Born
Gopalakrishna Kurup[1]

1946 (age 74–75)[2]
Cheriyanad,[1] Chengannur, Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Spouse(s)Sarasamma[3]
Criminal chargeOrganised crime, Murder, Fraud
Wanted by
Wanted since1984

Sukumara Kurup alias Sukumara Pillai is an Indian fugitive and is one of the most-wanted criminals in the Indian state of Kerala.[5][6] On January 21, 1984, he, along with his brother-in-law Bhaskara Pillai, his driver Ponnappan and his aide Shahu, murdered a man named Chacko in an attempt to fake Kurup's own death and thereby claim a life insurance amount of ₹8 lakh (US$11,000). The subterfuge was soon exposed by the police, who arrested Bhaskara Pillai, Ponnappan and Shahu. However, Kurup absconded from the state in the meantime.[7] Notorious for being India's longest wanted fugitive, Kurup is still missing and untraced since 1984.[8][1]

Murder of Chacko[]

Chacko was forcefully intoxicated, poisoned and strangled to death and later the body was burnt inside the Ambassador car at night near Tannimukkam Puncha in Mavelikara.[9] Sukumara Kurup allegedly committed the crime to fake his own death and claim an insurance amount of ₹8,00,000 by killing Chacko who bore a resemblance to him. Sukumara Kurup is supposed to have fled abroad after the incident, while two of his co-accused, driver Ponnappan and brother-in-law Bhaskara Pillai, were sentenced to a life-term imprisonment.[10] Shahu was made an approver and later released.[11] According to the police, Sukumara Kurup, is still on the list of absconding accused since January 1984.[12] The Chacko murder case is one of the longest-standing cases in the judicial history of Kerala. In 2018, Chacko's wife Santhamma forgave Bhaskaran Pillai, and others including Kurup, in absentia, at a meeting near the St Thomas Malankara Syrian Catholic Church at Chengannur.[13]

Chacko murder case is one of the cases that got media's fancy during the mid-2000s when there were reports on Sukumara Kurup lookalikes from various parts of India. Since, Kurup's remains still remain untraced, it's unclear as to whether he's dead or alive. Victim's of his crime believe he could be alive and well in a foreign country based on what the investigating officer wrote while closing the case after 12 years of search (1984 to 1996): Kurup had fled from the country with the 72 hours head start he got and with possible help from political allies, cause after the murder came to light he was able to narrowly escape multiple times from the police.[14][15]

However, it's believed by the police that Kurup under the alias of Joshi was found multiple times in India, and could've already passed away due to severe cardiac issues he had and the doctor's that consulted him made the medical prognosis in 1990 that he couldn't have survived for long.[16]

In popular culture[]

NH 47, a Malayalam film based on Chacko murder was made in 1984 by Baby.[17][18]

The 2016 Dileep starring movie Pinneyum by director Adoor Gopalakrishnan is loosely adapted from original criminal incident by Sukumara Kurup.[19]

The 2021 crime thriller film, Kurup, directed by Srinath Rajendran, was based on life and aftermath of Chacko murder case committed by Sukumara Kurup. Dulquer Salmaan played the eponymous role of Sukumara Kurup. The film is subject to fictitious themes and representation as well as adding a bit more story into the original case.[20][21]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala". The Indian Express. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. ^ Jose, Bijin (5 March 2017). "Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago". India Today. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. ^ "30 Years & Still on the Run: The Mystery of Kerala's Most Wanted". Interpol. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Interpol-Red Notice-Sukumara Kurup". Interpol. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  5. ^ "35 yrs after 'faking' own death, Kerala man still elusive". The Indian Express. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala". 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ "The tale of a macabre murder in Kerala: How Sukumara Kurup killed Chacko". The News Minute. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  8. ^ DelhiMarch 5, Bijin Jose New; March 5, 2017UPDATED; Ist, 2017 22:05. "Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago". India Today. Retrieved 29 August 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "People flock to 'Chacko padam' as 'Kurup' makes headlines".
  10. ^ R Gopakumar (13 November 2010), Fugitive fails to turn up at son's wedding, retrieved 27 May 2012
  11. ^ "If not Chacko, Sukumara Kurup would have killed me, recollects his accomplice". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  12. ^ bose, abhish k (19 January 2014). "30 years on, 'Chacko murder' still alive in files". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  13. ^ "'Don't know if Sukumara Kurup is alive or dead, but we forgive them'". Onmanorama.
  14. ^ "Hunt for Sukumara Kurup hots up". The Hindu (Press release). 6 May 2006. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  15. ^ "Police had nabbed Kurup once but was released in 4 HRS as they failed to identify him: Former DGP".
  16. ^ "Sukumara Kurup: How a single man's greed destroyed many families".
  17. ^ "NH 47". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  18. ^ "NH 47" (in Malayalam). malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  19. ^ Harikrishnan, Charmy (28 August 2016). "Why Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Pinneyum' is just half feminism". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  20. ^ "സുകുമാര 'കുറുപ്പ്' വീണ്ടും; ദുൽഖർ ചിത്രത്തിന് തുടക്കമായി". News18 Malayalam. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  21. ^ "Catch me if you can: Sukumara Kurup, Kerala's most wanted murderer on the run for over 30 years". The News Minute. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
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