Kerala: HC directs government to inform about investigation of film star Kalabhavan Mani’s death

The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the state government to inform it about the progress of the investigation into the mysterious death of Malayalam film star Kalabhavan Mani last year.

The court stated this while considering a plea filed by the actor’s brother R L V Ramakrishnan.

Justice Sunil Thomas also directed the CBI to inform the court about its stand on taking over the probe.

Meanwhile, the state government informed the court that the probe into the case was not yet over.

The petitioner submitted that continuance of the probe by the state police was inappropriate after the state government had issued a notification, handing over the investigation to the CBI.

The CBI said it has no information regarding handing over the probe to the agency.

Justice Thomas adjourned the case to March 23 for further hearing.

The 45-year-old actor, who had essayed various roles in south Indian films, was found in a serious condition at his farmhouse at Chalakudy last March and though he was rushed to hospital, his life could not be saved.

While a lab at Kochi had found traces of chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide in his viscera sample, a Hyderabad lab had stated that traces of methyl alcohol were found in his blood.

Mani was undergoing treatment for a liver ailment at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences at Kochi, where he breathed his last on March 6.

The Kerala government had on June 11 last year decided to hand over to the CBI the probe into the actor’s death.