The CBI, which had taken over investigation into the mysterious death of Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Mani in 2016, has started conducting polygraph tests. Mani’s former manager Joby Sebastian, friends M.G. Vipin and C. Arun underwent the test held at CBI office in Kochi. The actor's friends, Murugan and Anilkumar, and film stars Jaffar Idukki and Sabumon will also be subjected to polygraph tests.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Ernakulam, had granted permission to test all seven suspects in the case. . Ever since Mani's death in 2016, relatives have alleged foul play.
Mani, 45, was admitted to a hospital in Kochi on March 4, 2016 for an alleged liver ailment. He died two days later. Mani was staying at his farmhouse near Chalakkudy, allegedly with these friends, when he fell ill. After his death, hospital authorities reported presence of an organophosphate pesticide in the body, leading to speculation that Mani might not have died of natural causes.
In 2018, the Kerala government, too, sought a CBI probe.
-with inputs from Manorama
