The CBI has begun conducting polygraph tests in actor Kalabhavan Mani’s death case. Three of the late actor’s close aides are undergoing the test at the CBI office in Kathrikadavu, which is being conducted by forensic experts from Chennai. According to reports, Mani’s former manager Joy Sebastian and friends MG Vipin and C Arun underwent the tests which began on Tuesday.
Among those who will go through the polygraph tests are the actor’s friends Murugan and Anilkumar and films actors Jaffar Idukki and Sabumon. The CBI court had requested that a polygraph test be conducted on the suspects following their statements in the Chief Judiciary Magistrate Court in Ernakulam.
Forty-five-year-old Kalabhavan Mani was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi on March 4, 2016 for an alleged liver ailment. He passed away on March 6, two days later.
Following his death, the hospital discovered the presence of an organophosphate pesticide in his body, which indicated that his death might not be a natural one.
Prior to him being admitted in the hospital, Mani was living in a 30-acre-farmhouse in Chalakudy, away from his wife and daughter. His friends were said to be present with him when he fell ill.
In 2018, the Kerala government sought a CBI probe into the case. The CBI took over the case after the actor’s relatives alleging foul play in his death.
Mani’s brother RLV Ramakrishna had in August 2016 told TNM that the actor’s friends would have some knowledge over what happened. "These people were always by his side. We believe nothing can happen without their knowledge. Though the investigation so far has not found anything substantial, we hope the polygraph test would shed some light on what happened," Ramakrishna had said.