The charred bodies of Sreelekha A K, 67, niece of Kerala Forest Minister A K Saseendran, and her husband, Premarajan P K, 76, were discovered in their locked home in Alavil, Chirakkal, Kannur, on Thursday evening, prompting a police investigation into a suspected murder. The couple, whose two sons work abroad, lived alone in their two-story residence, and preliminary findings suggest foul play, with evidence pointing to a possible homicide before the bodies were set alight.

The incident came to light around 6 pm on August 28, when the couple’s driver arrived to take their car to pick up their son from Kozhikode International Airport. After repeated knocks went unanswered, he alerted neighbors and relatives, who broke open the front door, which was locked from the inside. Inside the bedroom, police found the couple’s severely burnt bodies, with Sreelekha showing head injuries and a blood-stained hammer nearby. “The injuries and the hammer suggest she may have been attacked before the fire,” a Baliyapattam police officer said, adding that no signs of forced entry were detected.

The police have registered a case under Section 174(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for unnatural death, with murder and arson as key angles of investigation. Forensic teams are examining the scene, focusing on the hammer, burn patterns, and potential accelerants. Neighbors reported seeing the couple last on Wednesday evening, and a local shopkeeper noted Premarajan buying groceries around 5 pm that day. The absence of external damage to the house has led police to suspect an internal altercation or a planned act by someone with access.

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The postmortem, scheduled for Friday at Kannur Government Medical College, is expected to clarify the cause of death and whether Sreelekha’s injuries were inflicted before or after the fire. The couple’s sons, one in Dubai and the other in London, are en route to Kerala. Minister Saseendran, representing Elathur in Kozhikode, expressed shock and urged a thorough probe, declining further comment pending investigation outcomes. The case has drawn attention due to Saseendran’s prominence in the LDF government and past controversies, including a 2021 allegation of shielding a party member in a harassment case.

Kannur SP Ajit Kumar confirmed a special team, including forensic experts and cybercrime units, is analyzing CCTV footage and phone records. “We’re exploring all possibilities, including personal disputes or external involvement,” he said. The incident has heightened local tensions, with residents demanding clarity amid Kerala’s recent spate of violent crimes, such as the 2024 Chengannur murder case. As the investigation unfolds, the community awaits answers in this chilling tragedy.

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