Kerala: Jolly murder case; Suspected involvement of police, politicians

Thiruvananthapuram: As Kerala society struggles to digest the likelihood of a single woman in Kozhikode district murdering six of her family members, the finger of suspicion is also pointing at other likely accomplices.

Among them are a police official and a few politicians.

Jolly Joseph, 47 is now in jail facing charges of murdering her husband Roy Thomas, parents-in-law Annamma Thomas and Tom Thomas, maternal uncle Mathew Manchady, Roy Thomas’s cousin Shaju Zacharia’s wife Cily and her infant daughter Alphine.

The murders took place between 2002 and 2016 and indications are that potassium cyanide was mixed in food to murder all six.

Ongoing investigation into the case is now raising suspicion that Jolly Joseph may have had assistance in accomplishing the murders.

Police are now investigating why there was no follow-up probe in 2011 when Roy Thomas died and the post mortem examination had revealed that he had consumed poison.

Criminologists say that if that matter had been probed then, the murders that followed could have been prevented.

Police officer Ramanunni has been asked to report for questioning in connection with the case related to the death of Roy Thomas in 2011.

Ramanunni was the sub-inspector at Kodenchery at the time of Roy Thomas’ death, when the post mortem report had shown traces of cyanide.

Local media reported that the investigation is also raising suspicion about some local politicians.

These politicians are suspected of having assisted Jolly Joseph in making a fake will of Tom Thomas, with the intention of amassing the family property after the demise of Tom Thomas.

One politician is believed to have signed as a witness in the statement of will that was forged, and another politician is suspected to have assisted in getting the property transferred to Jolly Joseph.

Meanwhile, Jolly Joseph’s second husband Shaju Zacharia was taken into custody by police on Monday, for questioning. His father, Zacharia is also expected to be questioned by police.

The story so far:

Jolly Joseph, 47 who was married into the Ponnamattam family in Kozhikode district, is accused of murdering six of the family members. All the deceased are believed to have been fed potassium cyanide, mixed with food.

The first death was in 2002, of her mother-in-law, Annamma Thomas.

Her father-in-law Tom Thomas died in 2008.

In 2011, her husband Roy Thomas died, after consuming food. His post mortem showed the presence of cyanide, but because he had gone to the restroom and locked himself in before he died, it was believed to have been a case of suicide. Police also did not follow up on the case.

In 2014, Annamma’s brother — Roy Thomas’ maternal uncle — Mathew Manchady died. It was Jolly Joseph who found him dead. Manchady had raised suspicion about Roy Thomas’ death.

The same year, Alphine, the 2-year-old daughter of Roy Thomas’s cousin, Shaju Zacharia and his wife Cily died while the child was at the baptism feast of her brother, eating food served there.

In 2016, Alphine’s mother, Cily died while waiting outside a dentist’s cabin alongside Jolly Joseph while her husband Shaju Zacbaria was inside the dentist’s clinic.

In 2017, Shaju Zacharia and Jolly Joseph got married.

Roy Thomas’s brother Rojo Thomas who is based in the US, and their sister get suspicious at this point, and inform the police that they suspect a series of murders from 2002 to 2016.

Police reinvestigate the death of Roy Thomas and his post mortem report and take Jolly Joseph and two others who provided cyanide to her into custody. Jolly Joseph confesses her role in the murders and says she had assistance from some others.