The body of a 51-year-old man was discovered in a derelict building in Maradu, Kochi, on Tuesday, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. The deceased is suspected to be Subhash, a native of Puthencruz.
Discovery and Scene Details
A group of migrant fisherfolk, who had come to fish in a nearby backwater using a small country boat, first detected the incident. They were alerted by a strong foul odour, which led them to search the area and ultimately find the body inside the abandoned structure.
Police officials stated the body was at least four days old. The man had sustained a serious injury to the back of his head and had broken legs. Initial assessment by authorities points to a fall from the top of the building.
Life in the Derelict Structure
Investigators concluded that the deceased had been living on the top floor of the building, which had been deserted for years and was overgrown with creepers. His personal belongings, including an ID card, a bed sheet, and a bag, were recovered from that floor.
"Prima facie, it is believed to be an accidental death. The building has stairs without handrails. He may have slipped while going down or up. It is suspected that he was drunk, as a liquor bottle and glass were found above," an official involved in the probe said.
The construction of the building was reportedly abandoned halfway after a slight slope was discovered due to a construction defect. Police sources are also investigating how long Subhash had been residing in the inhospitable conditions.
Background and Family
Authorities revealed that Subhash had a history of frequently leaving his home for extended periods and was also reportedly facing a financial crisis. His sister resides in Maradu. Maradu municipality chairperson Ajitha Nandakumar mentioned, "He went to meet her a month ago."
The body has been shifted to the Ernakulam General Hospital for a postmortem examination, which is scheduled for Wednesday, according to the Panangad police.
Other Police Cases from the Region
In a separate case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, a special court in Muvattupuzha sentenced a 59-year-old man, Saji from Enanalloor, to 26 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 for sexually abusing a minor girl. The crime occurred in June 2019.
In another incident, the Rural Cybercrime police arrested 25-year-old Muhammad Habeeb Rahman from Iriyan, Kasaragod, in a fraud case at Karipur airport on Monday. The accused allegedly posed as a representative of 'Anzo Capital', befriended a Cheranalloor resident on Facebook, and convinced them to invest in forex trading. He subsequently swindled Rs 4.1 lakh from the victim between October and December 2024 through ten transactions. He later returned around Rs 1.1 lakh but withheld the remaining amount along with the promised profit.
