Walayar Rape Case: One Accused Found Dead, Kerala Police Suspect Suicide

Madhu is the second accused in the case. Another accused Pradeep Kumar allegedly died by suicide in November 2020.

The Walayar case involves the alleged rape and murder of two sisters.

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One of the accused in the Walayar rape case was allegedly found dead by suicide at a closed-down factory near Aluva in Kochi on Wednesday. The deceased accused Madhu was found hanging in his room inside the factory at Binanipuram near Aluva, as reported by PTI. Madhu was working for a Chennai-based company in the department to check the soil of properties before transporting it, the police said.

According to authorities, the inquest has been completed, and the suicide is suspected based on the preliminary investigation. The autopsy was performed on Thursday.

Madhu is the second accused in the case. Another accused Pradeep Kumar allegedly died by suicide in November 2020.

The Walayar case involves the alleged rape and murder of two sisters. In 2017, the siblings were found dead in their hut under mysterious circumstances about two months after their alleged sexual assault.

On January 13, 2017, the eldest of the siblings (13) was found dead inside her hut. On March 4 of the same year, her nine-year-old sister was found dead in a similar way. Based on the inquiry, Walayar police concluded that the girls were sexually abused in an unnatural way by five people, including a juvenile, for nearly a year before being forced to die by suicide by the accused by trespassing into their home.

In January 2021, the HC ordered a retrial in the case and observed "serious lapses" in the investigation. The HC also set aside a special court order on October 2019 acquitting the five accused due to lack of evidence under POCSO Act. 

Madhu's death comes at a critical point in the probe, as the investigative team's appeal to subject the accused to a lie-detector test was awaiting a decision. The POCSO court is expected to decide on CBI's decision on October 30.