6:00 PM - Evening Preparations
Kochu Kunju Channar III, head of the Alummoottil family, concludes his day’s affairs at his residence in the Alummoottil Nalukett. He reviews personal and family matters, including ongoing disputes over resource allocation. Conversations take place with his son, Kochu Narayanan Channar, and his trusted estate manager, Raman Pillai. Household servants, including Narayani Amma and Ponnamma, prepare the evening meal.
7:00 PM - Family Dinner
The family gathers for dinner in the nalukett. Kochu Kunju Channar III, along with Kochu Narayanan Channar and Raman Pillai, discuss community activities and pending decisions about property management. Witnesses recall Channar being in good spirits, expressing optimism about resolving disputes. Servants, including Narayani Amma, oversee the meal service.
8:00 PM - Personal Time
After dinner, Channar retires to his private quarters in the meda for his nightly routine of reviewing documents and making plans. Security guard Kuttan Nair begins his patrol of the estate grounds. Servants complete their chores, while family members begin retiring for the night. Ponnamma, the housemaid, is last seen near the kitchen.
9:00 PM - Brewing Tensions Alleged
Police allegations suggest tensions were escalating among certain family factions. Sreedharan Channar, Keshavan Pillai, Madhavan Channar, and Krishnan Pillai were allegedly in the vicinity, planning to confront Kochu Kunju Channar. Meanwhile, Lakshmi Amma, a neighbor, reports seeing unfamiliar individuals near the western side of the estate.
9:30 PM - Observations Around the Mansion
Security guard Kuttan Nair notices three men near the rear garden but does not raise an alarm, believing them to be visitors. Raghavan, a passing villager, observes individuals near the estate’s boundary wall. Inside, Kochu Narayanan Channar visits his father briefly to discuss a community meeting scheduled for the following week.
10:00 PM - Quiet Descends
The household grows quiet as most members retire for the night. Narayani Amma completes cleaning the kitchen, and Ponnamma locks the main storeroom. However, neighbors later recall hearing hushed voices and seeing shadows moving near the estate’s perimeter.
11:00 PM - Alleged Preparations for Confrontation
As per police allegations, Sreedharan Channar, along with Keshavan Pillai, Madhavan Channar, and Krishnan Pillai, finalize their plan to confront Kochu Kunju Channar. They are alleged to have carried weapons and approached the mansion from the rear garden.
11:30 PM - Reported Intrusion
Witnesses, including Raghavan, claim to have seen individuals entering the property. Security guard Kuttan Nair reportedly steps away from his post briefly, providing an opportunity for the alleged intruders to move closer to the building. Padeettathil Kuttichannar, present in an adjoining section of the nalukett, later reports hearing footsteps.
11:45 PM - Alleged Fatal Encounter
According to police allegations, the intruders reach Kochu Kunju Channar’s quarters in the meda. A confrontation ensues between Channar and Sreedharan Channar, allegedly joined by Keshavan Pillai and Madhavan Channar. Raised voices are heard by nearby family members, including Kochu Narayanan Channar, but they assume it to be a routine argument.
12:00 AM - The Alleged Attack
During the confrontation, violence allegedly erupts. Police reports claim that Kochu Kunju Channar sustained multiple injuries during the altercation, resulting in his death. A broken lantern, scattered papers, and bloodstains are discovered later at the scene. However, no direct evidence conclusively ties the accused to the act.
12:15 AM - Alleged Escape
The attackers reportedly flee the scene under the cover of darkness. Witness Raghavan claims to see figures running toward the estate’s western exit. Family members, including Kochu Narayanan Channar and Raman Pillai, discover Channar’s lifeless body and raise the alarm.
12:30 AM - Alarm Raised
The household descends into chaos. Kochu Narayanan Channar informs the local authorities while Raman Pillai ensures the crime scene is not disturbed. Servants, including Narayani Amma and Ponnamma, gather in shock as neighbors begin arriving.
1:00 AM - Arrival of Police
Local police, led by Inspector Kayyalam Parameswaran Pillai, arrive at the scene. The District Magistrate and Police Superintendent are also notified due to the high-profile nature of the case. Initial observations focus on the evidence at the meda and witness statements from family members and neighbors.
2:00 AM - Investigation Commences
Police commence a formal investigation, interviewing household members, including Kochu Narayanan Channar, Raman Pillai, and Padeettathil Kuttichannar. Allegations against Sreedharan Channar, Keshavan Pillai, Madhavan Channar, and Krishnan Pillai emerge based on witness accounts and prior disputes.
3:00 AM - Alternative Theories Surface
Some family members and neighbors, including Raman Pillai and Lakshmi Amma, question the involvement of the accused, pointing to the possibility of external parties exploiting the situation. Padeettathil Kuttichannar recalls seeing unknown individuals near the estate earlier in the evening.
4:00 AM - Community Reaction
As news of Kochu Kunju Channar’s death spreads, members of the Ezhava community gather at the mansion to mourn. Public opinion begins to divide, with some demanding justice for the accused and others urging caution.
5:00 AM - Documentation and Next Steps
Police document the scene extensively, collecting evidence, including the broken lantern and footprints near the garden. Arrest warrants are issued for Sreedharan Channar, Keshavan Pillai, Madhavan Channar, and Krishnan Pillai, based on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony. However, gaps in evidence leave the case shrouded in uncertainty.
