KOLLAM: The accidental death of an elderly person has turned out to be a murder. Police said the death of a cyclist hit by a car in Ashramam, is a murder. Five including the manager identified as Saritha of a private money lending firm have been arrested. The murder was to extort the investment money of the dead C Pappachan.

Pappachan, former divisional engineer of BSNL, died on May 26 in 2023. Pappachan had questioned Saritha for extorting Rs 40 lakh from his investment money. After summoning Pappachan to solve the issue, he was hit by the car and killed. Shocking facts surfaced when the investigation was about to end with the conclusion that Pappachan’s death was a road accident.

Pappachan was in good terms with the bank employees as he had deposited his retirement benefits here. Everyone including the manager knew that Pappachan was not in good terms with his family. Saritha planned the murder knowing that if Pappachan died, no one would come asking for money.

The accident was caused after the car rented by Animon rammed into Pappachan’s bicycle. The accident happened in the side road next to the Ashramam grounds. Pappachan regularly used his bicycle.