Kerala Court Convicts Man In 2017 Nanthancode Family Murders

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The Sixth Additional Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram has found 35-year-old Cadell Jeansen Raja guilty of the brutal murders of his parents, sister, and aunt at their residence in Nanthancode in April 2017.

The court is scheduled to announce the quantum of punishment on Tuesday.

The murders, which shocked the state, involved the killing of Raja’s father, Raja Thankam (60), a retired college professor; his mother, Dr. Jean Padma (58), a leading doctor; his sister, Caroline (26); and his maternal aunt, Lalitha (70). The crimes occurred over two days, April 5 and 6, 2017, at the family’s residence in Bains Compound near Cliff House, Nanthancode.

Background Of The Case

During the investigation, Raja initially claimed that the killings were part of an occult experiment related to astral projection. However, the prosecution established that the murders were meticulously planned and motivated by his resentment towards his family. Raja had been dispirited after an unfinished engineering course abroad and was angered by his isolated life within his wealthy family home.

Forensic testimony revealed that the victims had been dismembered using axes, knives, and machetes before being set on fire. On the night of April 8, 2017, Raja set the bodies of his father, mother, and sister on fire. However, the fire got out of control, and he fled, traveling to Chennai, approximately 800 km away.

The court dismissed Raja’s claims of mental illness, concluding that the murders were premeditated acts driven by personal animosity. The case has been closely followed due to its gruesome nature and the psychological aspects involved.

The sentencing is expected to be announced on Tuesday, bringing closure to one of Kerala’s most disturbing criminal cases.