In a new turn in the mysterious death of noted actor Kalabhavan Mani, a highly poisonous insecticide has been found in his viscera samples even as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday said government was prepared to order a comprehensive probe in the matter.
Mani’s samples had been sent to the Regional Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory at Kakkanad in Kochi for testing after his death and the report came out on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The “very dangerous” insecticide Chlorpyrifos was found in the samples, Joint Chemical Examiner K. Muralidharan Nair told PTI.
Methyl and Ethyl alcohol contents were also found in the actor’s samples, he said.
Mr. Chandy told reporters in Kasaragod that if the actor’s family sought a probe, government was prepared to order a high-level inquiry. However, he maintained that the present probe was going in the right direction.
“Government will take a decision after getting to know the views of the family on the issue,” he said.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the DGP has been asked to conduct a foolproof probe.
“All new revelations will be inquired into… the inquiry report will soon be submitted in court,” Mr. Chennithala added.
Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes president Innocent also sought a probe and said the guilty should not be spared.
Mani’s brother R.L.V. Ramakrishnan said he feared that his brother’s friends could have allegedly given him liquor and a case for murder should be registered and probe ordered against those who were with the actor during the last moments at his Chalakudy outhouse.
Mani was undergoing treatment for liver and kidney diseases at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences for some time when he died on March 6, 2016.
Police had registered a case of unnatural death after AIMS doctors informed them that traces of methyl alcohol was found in his blood.
ADVERTISEMENT