Daijiworld Media Network- Kasargod
Kasargod, May 19: In a shocking revelation reminiscent of a film plot, the State Crime Branch has unearthed a sinister digital deception in the case of a murdered Adivasi girl from Kasargod, tracing the crime back nearly 15 years. The investigation has led to the arrest of civil contractor Biju Paulose, who now stands accused of kidnapping, rape, and possibly murder.
Crime Branch sleuths say Biju employed advanced deception techniques, including the use of a Chinese voice-mimicking mobile app and manipulated call records, to create a fake digital trail and mislead both the girl's family and law enforcement agencies.
The girl, a bright student who had passed Class XII with high grades, joined a nursery teacher training course on June 9, 2009, and was initially staying at Caritas Bhavan hostel in Kanhangad. Two months later, she moved into a rented house arranged by Biju in Balla Kadapuram. The house was shared with Biju’s mother, a teacher named Jessy, and a nursing student named Aswathi.
Biju reportedly introduced the girl as his sister to the landlord, while the girl confided in neighbours that she was Biju’s wife and Eliyamma, his mother, was her mother-in-law. The group later moved to Thoufeeque Quarters in Madiyan, further blurring identities. Her family remained unsuspecting as the girl visited them every weekend.
As the girl neared 18, tensions reportedly rose. According to a confidential report submitted by Bekal DySP Sunil Kumar CK, the girl may have pushed for marriage. However, Biju—already married to a woman named Smitha and father of two—had no intentions of making the relationship official.
On June 6, 2010, the girl made 37 calls to Biju, suggesting a confrontation. That was the last day she was seen or heard. Cell tower data confirmed Biju's presence at the house until 8 pm that day. Bekal DySP later theorised that either the girl died by suicide and Biju disposed of the body, or she was murdered by him.
In an effort to throw off suspicions, Biju spun a tale that the girl had moved to Ernakulam after securing a job with Vodafone. He even travelled to Kochi with her mobile phone and used a Chinese AI voice-mimicking app to imitate her voice during a call made to a family friend. The friend, unaware of the deception, relayed the message that she was undergoing computer training and would be unavailable for three months.
Officers now believe Biju created this elaborate ruse to simulate the girl's presence in Kochi, creating a fake digital footprint that included spoofed calls and location data—similar to the plot of the film Drishyam, though the film released three years later.
Shockingly, even after the girl's disappearance, legal proceedings dragged on. The Ambalathara police, influenced by Biju’s digital deceit, failed to pursue the case aggressively. The then-Station House Officer allegedly believed the girl had gone to Ernakulam voluntarily. A report submitted by Bekal DySP echoed this claim. Meanwhile, a habeas corpus petition was filed by Thekkan Sunil Kumar of Kerala Pattika Jana Samajam in October 2021, pushing for a renewed probe.
Despite repeated interventions by the High Court, progress remained stagnant. In January 2022, the court even granted Biju exemption from police summons for three days during his daughter’s wedding. Allegations also emerged that a local newspaper owner attempted to bribe the family with Rs 25 lakh to drop the case, which they firmly rejected.
After nearly 15 years, the High Court handed over the case to the State Crime Branch in December 2024. Although slow at first, a team led by SP Prajeesh Thottathil eventually cracked the digital facade. On April 9, 2025, during a court hearing, the Crime Branch rushed to collect DNA samples from the girl’s parents. Days later, they approached her elder sister as well.
The Crime Branch now suspects Biju took the body to his hometown Panathur and buried it under a stream near Pavithram Kayam hanging bridge. Following multiple monsoons, skeletal remains were discovered near the Chandragiri River, now undergoing DNA analysis.
On Saturday, police arrested Biju, who is being represented posthumously by high-profile lawyer B A Aloor, who passed away on April 30. While law enforcement celebrates a breakthrough, community leaders like Sunil Kumar remain cautious. “The timing of Biju’s arrest, just before the court reopening, seems suspicious. We were preparing to seek a CBI probe,” he told.
As the investigation now awaits DNA confirmation, the grieving family, along with Dalit and Adivasi rights groups, continue to demand justice.
"This is more than just a missing case—it's a chilling example of how technology, when misused, can shield perpetrators and delay justice for years," said a senior Crime Branch officer.
The truth, after a 15-year wait, may finally be within reach.