The Kerala government approached the Supreme Court opposing the CBI investigation, spending lakhs in the process. The Left government vehemently resisted the CBI probe in the Periya twin murder case, in which CPM leaders ranging from district to local committee levels were accused. However, despite appeals up to the Supreme Court, the CBI investigation commenced in Periya, implicating CPM leaders. Five years later, the verdict in the case was delivered and the convicts were sentenced.

On the night of February 17, 2019, at 7.36 pm, Kerala was shocked by the brutal Periya twin murder. Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sarathlal were mercilessly hacked to death by a gang in the middle of the road. The attackers intercepted the victims on their bike on the Kalyot-Koorankara road, inflicted grievous injuries and killed them. Kripesh succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while Sarathlal died en route to a hospital in Mangaluru due to severe injuries.
 

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Kripesh and Sarathlal

Congress and UDF leaders alleged that the CPM was behind the politically motivated killings. Protests from the Opposition intensified. On the second day of the murder, CPM local committee member A Peethambaran was arrested. Later, the second accused, CPM worker Saji George, was also taken into custody. The government handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch amidst growing public outcry. Following that, five CPM workers, including area secretary-level leaders, were arrested.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Periya twin murder became a prominent campaign issue. Congress and UDF rallied on the slogan "No votes for those who killed Sarathlal and Kripesh”. The UDF achieved a landslide victory in Kerala, winning 19 of the 20 seats, leaving the LDF with just one seat.

Meanwhile, the parents of Sarathlal and Kripesh approached the High Court demanding a CBI probe, citing lapses in the Crime Branch investigation, including the exclusion of several conspirators from the chargesheet. Despite resistance from the state government, the High Court single bench nullified the Crime Branch chargesheet and handed over the case to the CBI.

The High Court pointed out multiple lapses in the Crime Branch probe, including its reliance on the statements of a CPM leader as ‘gospel’ truth. Following this, the government appealed the single bench’s verdict in the division bench, hiring top lawyers and spending lakhs. However, the division bench upheld the single bench’s decision.

Despite these setbacks, the state government remained firm in opposing the CBI investigation and took the matter to the Supreme Court on September 12, 2020, filing an appeal against the division bench order. The parents of the victims also moved the Supreme Court. However, on December 1, 2020, the Supreme Court dismissed the state's appeal, affirming the High Court’s order for a CBI probe.

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CBI team at Kalyot during investigation

The CBI swiftly moved ahead with the investigation, led by SP Nandakumaran Nair and DySP T P Ananthakrishnan. However, the investigation faced delays due to the Crime Branch’s reluctance to hand over crucial case documents despite seven requests.

Eventually, the CBI had to issue summons to the Crime Branch to obtain the records.

The CBI's probe extended to CPM district leadership, conducting raids at the CPM area committee office. Former MLA and CPM district secretariat member K V Kunhiraman was among those implicated and arrested by the CBI.

Initially, the Crime Branch chargesheet included 14 accused, including CPM Periya local committee member A Peethambaran. However, the CBI chargesheet, filed on December 3, 2021, expanded the list to 24 accused. It detailed that the murders were politically motivated, planned during three meetings at locations including a bus shelter and a CITU workers’ rest house.
 

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First accused Peethambaran and second accused Saji C George

The CBI submitted a 1,000-page chargesheet to the Ernakulam CJM Court, listing 325 witnesses and over 200 documents. It specifically stated that the killings were the result of a political conspiracy orchestrated by CPM leaders.

A special CBI court here on December 28 delivered the long-awaited verdict in the Periya double murder case. The court found 14 of the 24 accused guilty for their involvement in the 2019 killings of Youth Congress workers Sarathlal and Kripesh. Meanwhile, 10 others were acquitted.

The court on Friday sentenced 10 accused to double life imprisonment while sentencing four CPM leaders, including former Uduma MLA K V Kunhiraman, to five years of rigorous imprisonment for aiding the accused.

Timeline of Key Events

  • February 17, 2019: Sarathlal and Kripesh were murdered at 7.36 pm.
  • February 19, 2019: CPM local committee member A Peethambaran was arrested.
  • February 21, 2019: Investigation handed over to the Crime Branch. Five more CPM workers arrested.
  • May 14, 2019: CPM area secretary and local secretary arrested.
  • September 30, 2019: High Court single bench handed over the case to the CBI, nullifying the Crime Branch chargesheet.
  • December 01, 2020: Supreme Court dismissed the state’s appeal, affirming the CBI probe.
  • December 03, 2021: CBI filed its chargesheet with 24 accused.
  • February 2023: Trial commenced.
  • December 23, 2024: Trial concluded. 
  • December 28, 2024: Verdict announced
  • January 03, 2025: Quantum of punishment announced

Accused in the Case

The following individuals were convicted:

  • A Peethambaran, former CPM Periya local committee member
  • Saji C George
  • K V Kunhiraman, former MLA and CPM district secretariat member
  • Raghavan Velutholy, CPM Pakkam local secretary and district Vyapari Vyavasayi secretary
  • Suresh K M
  • Anil Kumar K
  • Gijin
  • Sreerag R
  • Ashwin A
  • A Subeesh
  • Pradeepan alias Kuttan
  • K Manikandan, former CPM area secretary and Kanhangad block panchayat president
  • A Surendran alias Vishnu Sura
  • K V Bhaskaran

The CBI investigation has been hailed for unearthing the political conspiracy behind the murders, marking a turning point in Kerala's legal and political landscape.