Did Kerala’s famous violinist Balabhaskar and his daughter died in a road accident or was there a sinister plot involved? The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now taken over the probe which has puzzled the Kerala Police for two long years.

The case has been transferred to the CBI after Balabhaskar family hinted that their son could have been ‘killed’ by Kerala’s infamous crime syndicate operating gold smuggling racket

In the wee hours of September 25, 2018, Balabhaskar, his wife Lekshmi and their 18-month-old daughter Tejaswni Bala were travelling in an Innova SUV which met with an accident near CRPF camp, Pallipuram. While the toddler died at the spot, her parents were shifted to a nearby hospital. On Lekshmi’s brother complaint, a criminal case was registered.

Due to the high profile nature of the crime, the case was transferred to the crime branch. During the probe, it was found Arjun K Narayanan was driving the SUV. Balabhaskar had planned a trip to Thrissur where he wanted to offer prayers and ritual at Vadakumnathan temple for well being of his daughter.

They left Thiruvananthapuram in his Innova and reached Thrissur on the morning of September 24. After performing mathavilasam kooth, ritual, they all checked into a hotel. They left Thrissur for their home in the night.

The state police claimed that Arjun lost balance of the vehicle and hit a tree. Balabhaskar’s daughter was declared brought dead at Anathapuri Hospital. a week later, he succumbed to injuries.

Unhappy with the police probe, deceased violinist parents met Kerala chief minister Pinayari Vijayan last August and submitted a petition. The parents claimed that the probe is not being conducted in a professional manner and raised doubts over police’s investigation.

“They also alleged that the suspects having links with gold smuggling and there were suspected financial transactions in the account of Balabhaskar even after his death,” said the CBI FIR.

Despite carrying a probe for two years, the crime branch did not file any chargesheet in the case.

Sources said a close aide of Balabhaskar was arrested earlier by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in a gold smuggling case. “Arjun told the police that he was not driving the vehicle and at the time of the accident, Balabhaskar was on the wheels,” said sources.

Because of these lapses, Kerala government wrote to the Department of Personnel and Training asking that the case be investigated by the CBI.

Thiruvananthapuram unit of CBI has re-registered the case. While the CBI FIR is still that of death due to rash and negligence driving but the probe agency said more criminal sections of IPC can be added while submitting the final status report in the court.

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