The charred body of a man, suspected to be of a college owner, was discovered in an unfinished building of the institution at Karakulam, near Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Tuesday (December 31, 2024).
The body was found by the college security staff after they noticed smoke rising from the building in the morning. Upon investigating, they discovered the burnt body along with a pile of tyres nearby.
The Nedumangad police suspected the body to be of Mohamed Thaha, chairman of the P.A. Aziz College of Engineering and Technology (PAACET) group, based on the presence of his mobile phone and car at the scene. The investigators also found a shoe and a pair of spectacles close to the body.
DNA testing
The authorities have sent the remains to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital for DNA testing to confirm the identity. Forensic experts have collected fingerprints and other evidence from the site.
A police official suggested the incident could be a suicide, noting that Thaha had recently been facing severe financial difficulties and had confided in friends about the challenges of managing the college. He had reportedly been involved in heated arguments over unpaid loans from various individuals.
Thaha, originally from Eravipuram in Kollam, had been residing in a rented house at Peyad.
(Suicide prevention helpline: DISHA – 1056, 0471-2552056)
Published – December 31, 2024 03:37 pm IST
