THRISSUR: The team investigating the death of actor Kalabhavan Mani has confirmed the presence of country liquor in the outhouse (padi). Efforts are on to find how the pesticide and methanol entered his body. According to Excise Department sources, possibility of the country liquor containing poison could not be confirmed.
Though the police and Excise Department officials thoroughly combed the outhouse from 9 am till 2 pm, nothing significant could be found except a few plastic bottles.
Unconfirmed reports said the police have reportedly seized seven bottles of pesticide from near Mani’s ancestral house. They have been sent for chemical analysis.
Meanwhile, the investigation has thrown up two more names - Joy and Jomon. According to Excise officials, Thrissur native Joy brewed the country liquor.
Jomon reportedly handed over the liquor to friends at Padi.
“Joy is not a hardcore brewer. He brews liquor mainly for local occasions. We searched his house,” said a top Excise official. Another official said the liquid brewed by Joy was wine and not country liquor. Joy’s wife is currently working abroad. Jomon, who is in UAE, told mediapersons he had handed over the country liquor last month to one among the trio detained on Friday. But Mani did not consume that liquor. ENS More: P6The Special Investigation team formed to probe the death of actor Kalabhavan Mani has been expanded to include Crime Branch SP Unniraja and DySP Sojan.
The step has been taken in the light of the toxicology report which suggested that pesticide and methanol had been ingested by the actor.
The police squad had also conducted a thorough search of the outhouse, from 9 am to 2 pm noon, following which several bottles were found.
Apart from four of Mani’s friends, two others, Joy and Jomon, were questioned by the police.
The police might also question actors Sabu and Jaffer Idukki, who were there at the outhouse ‘Pady’ on the night of March 4, for a second time.
Meanwhile, Mani’s brother RLV Ramakrishnan will file a complaint on Monday, with all the financial aspects, including the reported missing of money from the actor from ‘Pady.’ “He used to get cheque as compensation for working in movies. But when he used to perform in cultural competitions, the pay was given in cash,” RLV Ramakrishnan had said.
IG M R Ajithkumar, after visiting ‘Pady,’ from where actor Kalabhavan Mani was taken seriously ill, said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) deputed for the case would be expanded. “The toxicology report suggests that the issue is now serious,” said the IG.
Three friends and helpers of Kalabhavan Mani, who were there with him on the fateful night, had been detained by the police for questioning. They have been identified as Arun, Vipin and Murugan.
Top Excise officials said that there was no possible way in which methanol could enter the body through beer or branded hard liquor.
“It usually happens when illicit liquor is used. However, such cases are next to nil in our state. As opposed to popular perception, it is not easy to obtain methanol or to mix it with beer or such other alcohol. It goes through two or three-tier inspection processes,” officials said.