ALAPPUZHA: Ambalappuzha police has started investigating the death of a couple in the compound of a chit firm owner in Ambalappuzha Saturday night. Circle inspector M. Viswambharan said they were still uncertain whether it was suicide or homicide. "We have questioned various people. There is no headway so far," he said. Venu, 57, of Keerithodu in Idukki, and his wife Suma, 52, who reached chit operator Suresh's home at 8 pm demanding money they had deposited. Soon, they were found blowing themselves up in his courtyard. Cops who found petrol there are clueless who brought it there.
Local people brought the couple to Medical College Hospital here where they were declared brought dead by 10 pm. The police said they had deposited Rs 3.36 lakh in Suresh's now defunct B and B Chit Funds in 2013. They had approached him several times to get their money back. Even on Saturday morning, they talked to him on the phone. Following its crash in 2014, 17 depositors from various parts of the state had lodged complaints of fraud against him. He is currently on bail.
