Brunei sighting of fugitive Sukumara Kurup proven false

Authorities have concluded that a recent lead suggesting the fugitive Sukumara Kurup was living in Brunei was false. The mystery surrounding Kurup, who vanished in 1984 after strangling a man and faking his own death, was revived this week by a claim from retired police officer Ali Akbar. Akbar asserted that Kurup was living as an Indian origin Malaysian citizen in Brunei and frequently visited a specific hotel. The Malayalam channel 24 News furthered these claims by broadcasting photographs of a man they alleged was Kurup, stating he worked in construction and remained in contact with family in Abu Dhabi.

On Friday, a family in Thrissur identified the man in the photographs and passport as Damodara Menon. The Kerala crime branch confirmed this identification after Assistant Commissioner of Police Bijoy Thomas recorded a statement from the family. While the home minister had previously directed the crime branch to verify the reports and contact Interpol, the police have now determined the photo was not of the fugitive. The investigation into Kurup's whereabouts remains open.