Kerala models’ death case: Audi driver who chased models’ car held

Mangalore Today News Network

Kochi, Nov 30, 2021: The Kerala Police Crime Branch on Friday arrested Saiju Thankachan, the driver of the vehicle that chased two models who died in a car crash in Kochi on November 1.

 

Miss South India 2021 Ansi Kabeer, who was crowned Miss Kerala in 2019, and the runner-up in the competition that year, Anjana Shajahan, died in a road accident along with one other person in Kochi’s Vyttilla in the wee hours of November 1. They were returning home after a party at No. 18 Hotel in Fort Kochi.

The models were allegedly offered drugs at the party which they refused. However, Saiju Thankachan, who had made the offer, followed the vehicle carrying the models in his Audi, the police said.

According to the police, Saiju allegedly has connections with many drug peddlers in the city.

Saiju Thankachan, who was absconding, appeared before the investigation team on Friday after he was served a notice. He has been booked under charges of following the models with wrongful intent and for endangering their lives by acting rashly and negligently.

Once investigation began, the visuals of the party at No. 18 Hotel were removed. The hard disk was later thrown into Vembanad lake by the staff of the hotel allegedly at the behest of hotel owner Roy Vayalat. He was arrested and later released on bail.

Meanwhile, the case was handed over to the crime branch. It was found that the models were suspiciously followed in vehicles even before the night of the accident.

The investigation team looked for the hard disk in the lake near Kannangattu bridge. However, nothing came out of it.

It was also found that No. 18 Hotel in Fort Kochi repeatedly flouted rules despite the Excise Department initiating action against it, according to a report formulated by the district chief of the Excise Department.

The report was handed over to the Excise Commissioner on Thursday. The hotel might lose its bar license as a result.

It has been found that the hotel had served liquor beyond the stipulated time on October 23 and later on October 31, the day the models attended the party.

Courtesy:India Today