Co-incidental or staged: Two who burgled Jaya's tea estate documents meet with accident

The Kodanadu burglary case is getting murkier. Two suspects in the burglary and murder case at Jayalalithaa's Kodanadu tea estate in Nilgiris met with an accident. Kanagraju and Sayan alias Shyam met with a road accident. Kanagaraju died in the accident by Sayan sustained injuries. However Sayan's wife Vinupriya and daughter Neethu died on the spot.

Both were separate incidents

Last week, a security guard was murdered at the estate while another sustained injuries. Initially the police did not suspect any foul play and said that it was a tussle between the two security guards. However further investigation pointed towards the missing documents and it was found that the accused had even tried to breach Jayalalithaa's room at the bungalow in the estate.

What was even murkier was that most of the CCTV cameras were not working in the estate. The police only got footage from one of the cameras which was at the entrance. The footage which is very blurry showed some persons entering the estate in an SUV.

The loot:

The police are looking for further clues in the wake of the two accidents. A police source said that it may be coincidental, but they do not rule out foul play. There are seven people part of this conspiracy and all have already been detained. Kanagraj the prime suspect is dead and Sayan is at a hospital now. Sayan would be able to give the police a clearer picture about the incident.

Kanagraj was Jayalalithaa's driver and also a regular to the tea estate. He was well aware of the logistics of the tea estate. He is said to have hatched a plan with Sayan to loot the bungalow. On April 24, at around 1.30 am they gained entry into the bungalow after killing the security guard. They then broke into Jayalalithaa's room and did away with some valuables and documents. It is still unclear what the missing documents were.

When police sources were asked if the the two accidents were linked to the missing documents, they said at the moment we cannot rule out anything. We are investigating.

The source however added that the two accidents do not look like a co-incidence. On Saturday, the accused persons will be taken to the property and investigated over there, the source also added.

Missing documents:

Were property documents the target of the persons who murdered a security guard at Jayalalithaa's Kodanad tea estate in Nilgiris. We are examining all possible angles including an attempt to steal property documents, the police say. The killers had made an entry to the room used by the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. However the evidence gathered from the room is being examined and police say that the details would be out soon.

The police however make it clear that there was no personal motive behind the killing of the security guard. The intent was only to silence them. There were no anti-mortem wounds on the body of the guard which also is an indication that the intent was not personal in nature.

There was a larger intent behind the incident. The culprits had proper information about the area and managed to access the estate with ease. They were aware of the logistics and may have surveyed the property several times. It may have had to do something with documents present at the property a source said.

The property in the disproportionate assets case:

It may be recalled that this property was part of the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and two others. It was alleged that the property was purchased with ill-gotten wealth. The Supreme Court while upholding the order of the trial court even held that the property was purchased from illegal income.

However there was a catch and the SC had abated the verdict against Jayalalithaa. As a result of the abatement, Karnataka could not collect the Rs 100 crore fine. Moreover the properties amassed by the former CM also did not go into the custody of the state. As per the verdict, the properties cannot be taken over by the state. It would go to the next of kin. There have been no claimants to the property as yet. It is currently being managed by a care-taker.

OneIndia News