The Kerala Police on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) recorded the statement of the family of Anandu Aji, 26, whose death by suspected suicide last week had triggered a political controversy after he left a “suicide note” on his Instagram account, suggesting that he was the victim of sexual exploitation at the hands of a purported Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader who went by the sobriquet ‘N.M.’
Mr. Aji was found dead in a hotel room within the Thampanoor police station limits. The police had registered a case of unnatural death.
However, the investigation took a different trajectory with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) demanding justice for Aji. Both organisations demanded that the police bring to book the person who allegedly abetted the youth’s suicide.
Initially, the lack of a complaint from Aji’s family hindered an abetment investigation.
Circle Inspector Thampanoor, P. Jiju Kumar, told The Hindu that a plainclothes team, including women officials, interviewed Aji’s family at their residence.
“Investigators have recorded the family’s statement. The police have clear leads. However, the sensitive nature of the investigation constrains me from revealing anything further”, he said.
DYFI petition
Meanwhile, the Ponkunnam police in Kottayam told The Hindu that they were processing the DYFI’s petition for a criminal probe into the youth’s death.
The DYFI had petitioned the DySP, Kunnumkulam, for a detailed probe.
The officer forwarded the petition to the Poonkulam Station House Officer for further investigation, with the direction to establish the bona fides of the purported suicide note and examine whether it revealed prima facie evidence of abetment to suicide, sexual exploitation, illegal detention and sexual exploitation.
The police were also verifying whether the case involved a violation of the provisions of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 since Aji had alleged that he was a victim of sexual exploitation since the age of 14.
DYFI State secretary V.K. Sanoj said in a Facebook post that the youth had lived in Kottayam and had been an RSS activist since the age of 14.
He alleged that Aji’s note was an indictment of the RSS’ leadership in Kottayam.
K.B. Sreekumar, RSS Saha Prantha Karyavah (South Kerala), has submitted a complaint to the District Police, Kottayam, demanding an inquiry. He termed the death “sad and unfortunate” and said the youth hailed from a family of “RSS karyakarthas.”
He said an independent inquiry would bring out the real cause of the death and “establish the innocence of the RSS in the unfortunate incident.”
Published – October 14, 2025 01:13 pm IST
