Insecticide found in Mani’s viscera samples

In a new turn in the mysterious death of noted south Indian actor Kalabhavan Mani (48), a highly poisonous insecticide has been found in his viscera samples even as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday said the government was prepared to order a comprehensive probe into the matter.

Mani’s samples were sent to the Regional Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory at Kakkanad in Kochi for testing, after his death. The report was out on Friday. 

The ‘very dangerous’ insecticide ‘Chlorpyrifos’ was found in the samples, Joint Chemical Examiner K Muralidharan Nair said. Methyl and Ethyl alcohol contents were also found in the actor’s samples, he said.

Chandy said if the actor’s family sought a probe, the government was prepared to order a high-level inquiry. However, he maintained that the present probe was going in the right direction. “The government will take a decision after getting to know the views of the family on the issue,” he said.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the DGP has been asked to conduct a foolproof probe. 

Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes president Innocent has also sought a probe into the incident. Mani’s brother RLV Ramakrishnan said he feared that his brother’s friends could have allegedly given him liquor and a case for murder should be registered and probe ordered against those who were with the actor during his last moments.