Created by GreenC bot
Last edited March 22, 2026
>GreenC bot
Rescued 1 archive link; reformat 1 link. Wayback Medic 2.5
 
->Jay
reverted revision 1055092904 by Egeymi (which ended up restoring a very old revision of Jay)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Indian fugitive}}
{{Short description|Indian fugitive (born 1946)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox criminal
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Sukumara Kurup
| name           = Sukumara Kurup
| image = File:Sukumara Kurup before 1984.png
| image           = Sukumara Kurup before 1984.png
| image_size = 235px  
| image_size     = 235px
| caption   =  
| caption         =  
| birth_name = Gopalakrishna Kurup<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/the-37-year-old-murder-case-that-shocked-kerala-7139884/|title=Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala|date=2021-01-10|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2021-04-01}}</ref>
| birth_name     = Gopalakrishna Kurup<ref name="folklore">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/the-37-year-old-murder-case-that-shocked-kerala-7139884/|title=Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala|date=2021-01-10|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2021-04-01}}</ref>
| birth_date = 1946<ref name="IT01">{{cite news |last1=Jose |first1=Bijin |title=Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-sukumara-kurup-arrest-warrant-fake-death-964066-2017-03-05#:~:text=Sukumara%20Kurup%2C%20who%20has%20become,tenterhooks%20for%20over%20thirty%20years. |access-date=19 March 2021 |publisher=[[India Today]] |date=5 March 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{birth year and age|1946}}<ref name="IT01">{{cite news |last1=Jose |first1=Bijin |title=Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-sukumara-kurup-arrest-warrant-fake-death-964066-2017-03-05#:~:text=Sukumara%20Kurup%2C%20who%20has%20become,tenterhooks%20for%20over%20thirty%20years. |access-date=19 March 2021 |publisher=[[India Today]] |date=5 March 2017}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Chengannur]], [[Kerala]], India
| birth_place     = [[Cheriyanad]],<ref name="folklore"/> [[Chengannur]], [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]], Kerala, India
| spouse = Sarasamma<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/sukumara-kurup-kerala-most-wanted-murder-film#read-more|title=30 Years & Still on the Run: The Mystery of Kerala’s Most Wanted|date=2017-06-19|website=The Quint|language=en-IN|access-date=2021-04-01}}</ref>
| spouse         = Sarasamma<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/sukumara-kurup-kerala-most-wanted-murder-film#read-more|title=30 Years & Still on the Run: The Mystery of Kerala's Most Wanted|date=2017-06-19|website=The Quint|language=en-IN|access-date=2021-04-01}}</ref>
| criminal_charge = [[Organised crime]], [[Murder]], [[Fraud]]
| criminal_charge = [[Organised crime]], Murder, Fraud
| wanted_by = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Kerala Police|Kerala State Police Department]]|[[Interpol]]}}
| wanted_by       = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Kerala Police|Kerala State Police Department]]|[[Interpol]]}}
| wanted_since = 1984
| wanted_since   = 1984
}}
}}


'''Sukumara Kurup''' is an Indian fugitive and is one of the most-wanted criminals in the [[India]]n state of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/35-yrs-after-faking-own-death-kerala-man-still-elusive-5558582/|title=35 yrs after 'faking' own death, Kerala man still elusive|date=2019-01-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref> In 1984, he was accused of the murder of Chacko as part of a plot to portray Chacko's body as his own to collect insurance money.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-sukumara-kurup-arrest-warrant-fake-death-964066-2017-03-05|title=Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago|last=DelhiMarch 5|first=Bijin Jose New|last2=March 5|first2=2017UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29|last3=Ist|first3=2017 22:05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/the-37-year-old-murder-case-that-shocked-kerala-7139884/|title=Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala|publisher=Indian Express}}</ref>
'''Sukumara Kurup''' alias '''Sukumara Pillai''' is an Indian [[fugitive]] and is one of the most-wanted criminals in the Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/35-yrs-after-faking-own-death-kerala-man-still-elusive-5558582/|title=35 yrs after 'faking' own death, Kerala man still elusive|date=2019-01-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/the-37-year-old-murder-case-that-shocked-kerala-7139884/|title = Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala|date = 7 November 2021}}</ref> In 1984, he was accused of murder and faking his own death and tried to deceive authorities and police with a plot to portray Chacko's dead body as his own dead body, to collect insurance money around {{INRConvert|8|l}}. Often credited as India's longest wanted fugitive, Kurup is still missing and untraced since 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-sukumara-kurup-arrest-warrant-fake-death-964066-2017-03-05|title=Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago|last1=DelhiMarch 5|first1=Bijin Jose New|last2=March 5|first2=2017UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29|last3=Ist|first3=2017 22:05}}</ref><ref name="folklore"/>


==Background==
==Murder of Chacko==
 
Chacko was forcefully [[Alcohol intoxication|intoxicated]] and strangled to death and later the body was burnt inside the [[Hindustan Ambassador |Ambassador]] car at night near Kunnam in [[Mavelikara]]. Sukumara Kurup allegedly committed the crime to fake his own death and claim an insurance amount of {{INR|8,00,000}} by killing Chacko who bore a resemblance to him. Sukumara Kurup is supposed to have fled abroad after the incident, while two of his co-accused, driver Ponnappan and brother-in-law Bhaskara Pillai, and friend Shahu were sentenced to a life-term imprisonment.<ref>{{citation| url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/112678/fugitive-fails-turn-up-sons.html| title=Fugitive fails to turn up at son's wedding| date=Nov 13, 2010| author=R Gopakumar| access-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref> According to the police, Sukumara Kurup, is still on the list of absconding accused since January 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140119/news-current-affairs/article/30-years-%E2%80%98chacko-murder%E2%80%99-still-alive-files|title=30 years on, 'Chacko murder' still alive in files|last=bose|first=abhish k|date=2014-01-19|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>
===Murder of Chacko===
 
Chacko was strangled to death and his body was burnt inside a car near Kunnam in [[Mavelikara]]. Sukumara Kurup allegedly committed the crime to fake his own death and claim an insurance amount of {{INR|8,00,000}} ({{USD|10,075}}) by killing Chacko who bore a resemblance to him. Sukumara Kurup is supposed to have fled abroad after the incident, while two of his co-accused, driver Ponnappan and brother-in-law Bhaskara Pillai, were sentenced to a life-term imprisonment.<ref>{{citation| url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/112678/banner-300x250.swf| title=Fugitive fails to turn up at son's wedding| date=Nov 13, 2010| author=R Gopakumar| accessdate=May 27, 2012}}</ref> According to the police, Sukumara Kurup, is still on the list of absconding accused since January 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140119/news-current-affairs/article/30-years-%E2%80%98chacko-murder%E2%80%99-still-alive-files|title=30 years on, 'Chacko murder' still alive in files|last=bose|first=abhish k|date=2014-01-19|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>
The Chacko murder case is one of the longest-standing cases in the judicial history of Kerala.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/kerala/top-news/2018/07/01/chacko-wife-forgives-sukumara-kurup-murdered-husband.html|title='Don't know if Sukumara Kurup is alive or dead, but we forgive them'|publisher=Onmanorama}}</ref>
The Chacko murder case is one of the longest-standing cases in the judicial history of Kerala.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/kerala/top-news/2018/07/01/chacko-wife-forgives-sukumara-kurup-murdered-husband.html|title='Don't know if Sukumara Kurup is alive or dead, but we forgive them'|publisher=Onmanorama}}</ref>


The case again caught media attention during the mid-2000s when there were reports on Sukumara Kurup look-alikes in various parts of India including Kerala. Even today, Kurup still remains untraced.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050616080100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320113607/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050616080100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2007 |title=Hunt for Sukumara Kurup hots up |accessdate=September 26, 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=May 6, 2006 }}</ref>
The case again caught media attention during the mid-2000s when there were reports on Sukumara Kurup lookalikes from various parts of India including Kerala. Even today, Kurup still remains untraced as it's unclear whether he's dead or alive.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050616080100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320113607/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050616080100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2007 |title=Hunt for Sukumara Kurup hots up |access-date=September 26, 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=May 6, 2006 }}</ref>


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
''[[NH 47 (film)|NH 47]]'', a [[Cinema of Kerala|Malayalam]] [[film]] based on Chacko murder was made in 1984 by [[Baby (director)|Baby]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=1602|title=NH 47|accessdate=2015-11-01|publisher=www.malayalachalachithram.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?2154 |title=NH 47 |accessdate=2015-11-01 |publisher=malayalasangeetham.info |language=Malayalam}}</ref> The 2016 [[Dileep]] starring movie ''[[Pinneyum]]'' by director [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]] is loosely adapted from original criminal incident by Sukumara Kurup.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/why-adoor-gopalakrishnans-pinneyum-is-just-half-feminism/articleshow/53891007.cms?from=mdr|title=Why Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Pinneyum' is just half feminism|last=Harikrishnan|first=Charmy|date=2016-08-28|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
''[[NH 47 (film)|NH 47]]'', a [[Cinema of Kerala|Malayalam]] [[film]] based on Chacko murder was made in 1984 by [[Baby (director)|Baby]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=1602|title=NH 47|access-date=2015-11-01|publisher=www.malayalachalachithram.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?2154 |title=NH 47 |access-date=2015-11-01 |publisher=malayalasangeetham.info |language=Malayalam}}</ref>  
 
The 2016 [[Dileep]] starring movie ''[[Pinneyum]]'' by director [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]] is loosely adapted from original criminal incident by Sukumara Kurup.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/why-adoor-gopalakrishnans-pinneyum-is-just-half-feminism/articleshow/53891007.cms?from=mdr|title=Why Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Pinneyum' is just half feminism|last=Harikrishnan|first=Charmy|date=2016-08-28|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>


A 2021 [[crime thriller film]], ''[[Kurup (film)|Kurup]]'', directed by Srinath Rajendran, is being made with [[Dulquer Salmaan]] playing the eponymous role. Teaser of this movie was released on 26 March 2021 in [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]], [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]], [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]], [[Kannada cinema|Kannada]] and [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/film/movies-dulquer-salman-features-the-film-kurup-pooja-held-ar-154497.html|title=സുകുമാര 'കുറുപ്പ്' വീണ്ടും; ദുൽഖർ ചിത്രത്തിന് തുടക്കമായി|date=2019-09-01|website=News18 Malayalam|access-date=2019-09-19}}</ref>
The 2021 [[biographical]] [[crime thriller film]], ''[[Kurup (film)|Kurup]]'', directed by Srinath Rajendran, was based on life and aftermath of Chacko murder case committed by Sukumara Kurup. [[Dulquer Salmaan]] played the eponymous role of Sukumara Kurup. The film is subject to fictitious themes and representation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/film/movies-dulquer-salman-features-the-film-kurup-pooja-held-ar-154497.html|title=സുകുമാര 'കുറുപ്പ്' വീണ്ടും; ദുൽഖർ ചിത്രത്തിന് തുടക്കമായി|date=2019-09-01|website=News18 Malayalam|access-date=2019-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-18|title=Catch me if you can: Sukumara Kurup, Kerala's most wanted murderer on the run for over 30 years|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/catch-me-if-you-can-sukumara-kurup-kerala-s-most-wanted-murderer-run-over-30-years-63841|access-date=2021-03-21|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 37: Line 36:
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurup, Sukumara}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurup, Sukumara}}
[[Category:Crime in Kerala]]
[[Category:Crime in Kerala]]

Revision as of 22:18, 15 November 2021


Sukumara Kurup
Born
Gopalakrishna Kurup[1]

1946 (age 79–80)[2]
Spouse(s)Sarasamma[3]
Criminal chargeOrganised crime, Murder, Fraud
Wanted by
Wanted since1984

Sukumara Kurup alias Sukumara Pillai is an Indian fugitive and is one of the most-wanted criminals in the Indian state of Kerala.[4][5] In 1984, he was accused of murder and faking his own death and tried to deceive authorities and police with a plot to portray Chacko's dead body as his own dead body, to collect insurance money around 8 lakh (US$11,000). Often credited as India's longest wanted fugitive, Kurup is still missing and untraced since 1984.[6][1]

Murder of Chacko

Chacko was forcefully intoxicated and strangled to death and later the body was burnt inside the Ambassador car at night near Kunnam in Mavelikara. Sukumara Kurup allegedly committed the crime to fake his own death and claim an insurance amount of ₹8,00,000 by killing Chacko who bore a resemblance to him. Sukumara Kurup is supposed to have fled abroad after the incident, while two of his co-accused, driver Ponnappan and brother-in-law Bhaskara Pillai, and friend Shahu were sentenced to a life-term imprisonment.[7] According to the police, Sukumara Kurup, is still on the list of absconding accused since January 1984.[8] The Chacko murder case is one of the longest-standing cases in the judicial history of Kerala.[9]

The case again caught media attention during the mid-2000s when there were reports on Sukumara Kurup lookalikes from various parts of India including Kerala. Even today, Kurup still remains untraced as it's unclear whether he's dead or alive.[10]

In popular culture

NH 47, a Malayalam film based on Chacko murder was made in 1984 by Baby.[11][12]

The 2016 Dileep starring movie Pinneyum by director Adoor Gopalakrishnan is loosely adapted from original criminal incident by Sukumara Kurup.[13]

The 2021 biographical crime thriller film, Kurup, directed by Srinath Rajendran, was based on life and aftermath of Chacko murder case committed by Sukumara Kurup. Dulquer Salmaan played the eponymous role of Sukumara Kurup. The film is subject to fictitious themes and representation.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala". The Indian Express. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. Jose, Bijin (5 March 2017). "Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago". India Today. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. "30 Years & Still on the Run: The Mystery of Kerala's Most Wanted". The Quint. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. "35 yrs after 'faking' own death, Kerala man still elusive". The Indian Express. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  5. "Finding Sukumara Kurup: Recreating a 37-year-old murder case that has become folklore in Kerala". 7 November 2021.
  6. DelhiMarch 5, Bijin Jose New; March 5, 2017UPDATED; Ist, 2017 22:05. "Kerala: Arrest warrant against man who faked death 33 years ago". India Today. Retrieved 29 August 2019. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help); |first3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. R Gopakumar (13 November 2010), Fugitive fails to turn up at son's wedding, retrieved 27 May 2012
  8. bose, abhish k (19 January 2014). "30 years on, 'Chacko murder' still alive in files". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. "'Don't know if Sukumara Kurup is alive or dead, but we forgive them'". Onmanorama.
  10. "Hunt for Sukumara Kurup hots up". The Hindu (Press release). 6 May 2006. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  11. "NH 47". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  12. "NH 47" (in Malayalam). malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 1 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  13. Harikrishnan, Charmy (28 August 2016). "Why Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Pinneyum' is just half feminism". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  14. "സുകുമാര 'കുറുപ്പ്' വീണ്ടും; ദുൽഖർ ചിത്രത്തിന് തുടക്കമായി". News18 Malayalam. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  15. "Catch me if you can: Sukumara Kurup, Kerala's most wanted murderer on the run for over 30 years". The News Minute. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2021.

External links