The Kozhikode City Police have received widespread praise for quickly solving the theft case at the residence of renowned writer MT Vasudevan Nair. In a remarkable turnaround, the City Crime Squad arrested the accused—Shantha, 48, the cook at Nair’s house for the past five years, and her distant relative Prakashan, 44, within 24 hours of the theft being reported.
The theft was discovered when Nair’s wife, S S Saraswathy, checked an almirah and found that jewelry was missing. She immediately filed a complaint with the Nadakkavu police on Friday. Upon investigation, the police suspected that the perpetrators were likely individuals close to the family, as the lock of the house had not been broken, and the cupboard had been opened using a key that was kept in a specific location.
Based on these clues, the police formed a special investigation team, with guidance from North Zone IG K Sethuraman and under the supervision of Kozhikode District Police Chief T Narayanan. The team, headed by Town ACP T K Ashraf, quickly gathered evidence using fingerprint analysis and other scientific methods.
The investigation, which involved multiple levels of inquiry, led the police to question those close to the family. During the investigation, Shantha’s suspicious behavior caught the attention of the team, and a covert inquiry was launched into her actions. This eventually revealed the involvement of both Shantha and her relative Prakashan in the crime.
On Saturday evening, both suspects confessed to selling the stolen gold at a local jewelry shop in Kammath Lane, Kozhikode. Shantha was subsequently arrested the following Sunday morning from her residence in Karuvissery. During interrogation, the pair admitted to committing several similar thefts in the past.
The stolen gold was recovered, and the police continue to probe the extent of the duo’s involvement in other thefts. The swift action of the police and the thorough investigation have been hailed as an exemplary effort in solving the case and recovering the stolen items quickly.