Kodanad Heist-Murder Case: Brother & Kin Of Jayalalithaa's Driver Arrested For Destroying Evidence

This was the first arrest made after the DMK-led government reopened the case for investigation. 

Kodanad Bungalow (File Photo)

Chennai: In an unexpected late-night twist on Monday, police arrested the brother and kin of late Kanagaraj, a driver of former TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and a prime accused of the heist-cum-murder case in Kodanad, allegedly for destroying evidence relating to Kanakaraj’s death and the heist. The prime suspect Kanakaraj allegedly died in a car accident four days after the heist incident that took place on April 24, 2017. 

According to a report on Times of India, the Salem special team police arrested Dhanapal (44), brother of Kanagaraj, and R Ramesh (34), a relative of Kanagaraj on Monday. The police reportedly registered a case under Section 201, 2014, and 120 B of IPC against both the accused.

This was the first arrest made after the DMK-led government reopened the case for investigation. 

Kanagaraj, who was the main accused in the Kodanad heist case, died in a road accident near Attur of Salem district in 2017. However, the police then closed the case as a road accident and said there was not any foul play in the accident. 

However, once the DMK government came to power, the Ooty sessions court based on a petition by Sayan, a prime accused in the case, ordered for a reinvestigation in August. 

After a preliminary investigation, on August 24, Nilgiris police conducted an inquiry with Dhanapal in Ooty following which the police have arrested him for destroying the evidence in the case. 

Meanwhile, the Nilgiris police have already started reinvestigation into the suicide of Kodanad estate employee B Dhinesh Kumar, who was in charge of CCTV cameras in the estate.