A 13-year-old girl is among four minors detained in connection with the alleged planned killing of her 65-year-old grandfather in Kerala’s Alappuzha district. Police suspect the murder was linked to a robbery, with investigators also examining other allegations and motives.
A shocking murder case in Kerala’s Alappuzha district has taken an unexpected turn after police alleged that a 13-year-old girl planned the killing of her grandfather with the help of three other minors. The victim, 65-year-old Sivankutty Chettiyar, was found dead inside his rented house in Karuvatta.
Police took the 13-year-old girl and three minor boys into custody on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in connection with the murder. Police have alleged that the girl planned the crime while the three boys carried it out.
Sivankutty’s body was discovered on Monday after neighbours became suspicious because the house had remained locked for two days. His hands and legs were reportedly tied with bedsheets and clothes.
Police initially suspected that the incident could have been a robbery gone wrong because gold ornaments and cash were missing from the house. However, the investigation changed direction after police found contradictions in the statements given by the victim’s granddaughter.
The post-mortem examination reportedly found that Sivankutty died of smothering. Police said he had also suffered injuries that caused internal bleeding.
According to police, the 13-year-old allegedly planned the robbery-murder with her 17-year-old boyfriend and two of his friends, who are also minors.
Investigators allege that the girl knew her grandfather would be alone in the house and informed her boyfriend. The three boys reportedly travelled from Paravur in Kollam district to Haripad before reaching the house.
Police said the girl remained on a video call with her boyfriend while the boys carried out the attack. Investigators are examining phone records and other digital evidence as they reconstruct the events.
Police have said that financial gain appears to be a preliminary motive. According to investigators, the girl reportedly wanted an iPhone, while the boys allegedly needed money to buy a motorcycle.
Six sovereigns of gold and cash were reportedly stolen from the house. Police suspect the group planned to use the stolen valuables to fund their purchases.
However, investigators are also examining another possible motive. Police said the girl had allegedly told her boyfriend that her grandfather had touched her inappropriately and that she wanted him killed. Authorities have said this allegation will be investigated separately.
Investigators said the crime appeared to have been planned rather than being an accidental escalation of a robbery. Police also found chilli powder scattered around the crime scene, which they suspect may have been used in an attempt to prevent sniffer dogs from tracking the suspects.
The investigation reportedly moved forward after police examined the girl’s statements, situational evidence and phone records. Her alleged involvement was then linked to the three boys, leading to their detention.
The case has drawn attention because of the alleged involvement of four minors and the use of a video call during the suspected crime. The three boys were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, while the 13-year-old girl was placed at a Sakhi One Stop Centre and was scheduled to appear before the Board.
Police are continuing to investigate the suspected financial motive, the girl’s allegations against her grandfather and the exact role played by each minor. The allegations remain part of an ongoing investigation and will have to be established through the legal process.
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