Late violinist Balabhaskar. (Supplied)
The mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of renowned violinist Balabhaskar have resurfaced following the arrest of his former driver, Kuriyedath Manayil Arjun, in connection with a jewellery robbery case.
In the latest, Balabhaskar’s father, KC Unni, has alleged that the gold mafia orchestrated the road accident that claimed his son’s life. Addressing the media at his residence on Friday, 29 November, Unni said the family only became aware of Arjun’s criminal background after the fatal accident in 2018.
Arjun, now 28, was among 13 individuals booked in a robbery case in Perinthalmanna, recently, where he allegedly transported four suspects involved in the heist.
Balabhaskar, his wife, and their two-year-old daughter along with Arjun were travelling from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram when their car met with an accident at Pallippuram on National Highway 66 on 25 September 2018.
His daughter died instantly, while Balabhaskar succumbed to injuries a week later, on 2 October 2018, at Ananthapuri Hospital. His wife and driver sustained injuries but survived.
Explaining how Balabhaskar had met Arjun, Unni said, “Balu used to visit an Ayurvedic centre in Cherpulassery, where he met Arjun, the nephew of Dr Ravindran who ran the centre. It was after this acquaintance that Balu hired Arjun as his driver.”
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Controversy surrounding the accident
The controversy surrounding the accident deepened when conflicting reports emerged about who was driving the car. Some claimed Arjun was at the wheel, while others suggested Balabhaskar was driving.
In 2019, Unni approached Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, requesting a CBI investigation into his son’s death. The government subsequently ordered a probe, and the CBI concluded that the death was accidental.
However, in 2023, the Kerala High Court directed the CBI to reinvestigate the case, stating that the earlier investigation was not foolproof. The court specifically asked the agency to probe whether there was any conspiracy linking the accident to alleged gold smuggling activities.
Balabhaskar’s death remains shrouded in mystery, with his father’s latest allegations reigniting public interest in the case.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
