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Kerala Police to Probe Fresh Sighting Claims of Fugitive Sukumara Kurup

A Malayalam television channel has broadcast an image allegedly showing long-sought fugitive Sukumara Kurup in Brunei, prompting Kerala's Crime Branch to examine the latest claims. Police officials say they will not close the decades-old case without conclusive proof of the suspect's death.

LSN India · 28 August 2026

Kerala Police to Probe Fresh Sighting Claims of Fugitive Sukumara Kurup

Kerala's Crime Branch has indicated it will investigate recent claims about the whereabouts of fugitive Sukumara Kurup after a Malayalam news channel aired a photograph purporting to show the wanted man in hiding in Brunei.

ADGP H. Venkatesh, who heads the Crime Branch, stated that the police department will examine the latest evidence presented in connection with the high-profile case. However, Venkatesh cautioned that merely sighting claims would not be sufficient to resolve the matter.

"The case will not be closed unless there is conclusive evidence that Kurup is dead," Venkatesh said, underscoring the police's stance on the investigation. The remarks indicate that authorities require verifiable proof rather than circumstantial reports to conclude the decades-long manhunt.

Sukumara Kurup has remained one of India's most wanted fugitives for several decades, with his case continuing to capture public attention periodically. The fresh claims emerging from the region have reignited interest in one of Kerala's most notorious criminal cases, even as law enforcement agencies maintain their investigative focus on securing definitive answers about his current status.