Senior bureaucrat, mother and sister found dead in Kerala; suicide suspected
PTC Web Desk: A senior official of the Central Excise and GST department, his mother, and sister were found dead at their residence in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, with the police suspecting suicide. The deceased have been identified as Additional Commissioner Manish Vijay, his mother Shakunthala, and his sister Shalini.
The incident came to light when Manish’s colleagues visited his official residence in Kakkanad Customs Quarters after he failed to report to work following a four-day leave. Upon arrival, they noticed a foul smell emanating from the house and immediately alerted the police.
The police discovered Manish and Shalini hanging in separate rooms, while their mother was found lying on a bed, draped in a white cloth with flowers placed beside her. This has led investigators to suspect that the mother may have died first, either naturally or under suspicious circumstances, before the siblings allegedly ended their lives.
Kochi Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya stated that the bodies were several days old and had begun decomposing. "A forensic examination will determine the exact time of death," he said.
A diary recovered from one of the rooms contained a note requesting the police to inform their sibling, who resides abroad, about their deaths.
Originally from Jharkhand, Manish Vijay earlier served in Customs Preventive at Kozhikode Airport before transferring to Kochi a year and a half ago. His mother and sister had moved in with him a few months ago.
Shalini, who was once a deputy collector in Jharkhand, had topped the 2006 Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination. However, her appointment was later challenged, and her rank was revoked, leading to her dismissal. In 2024, a CBI investigation into the case resulted in a chargesheet against her, and trial proceedings were ongoing. Reports suggest that Manish had taken leave to assist her with the legal proceedings.
The police have registered a case of unnatural death and are awaiting the arrival of the deceased’s sibling from abroad before commencing the post-mortem examinations. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
- With inputs from agencies
