Rahul, The Rooster News
January 10, 2025
In a remarkable turn of events, Kerala Police, with the assistance of cutting-edge technology and a determined team of officers, have solved a chilling 19-year-old cold case that had baffled authorities for nearly two decades. The case, which involved the brutal murders of a mother, Ranjani, and her twin 17-day-old daughters, was left unsolved until now, but thanks to an innovative investigation approach utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), justice has finally been served.
The Tragic Crime
It was February 10, 2006, when the peaceful town of Kollam in Kerala was shaken by a brutal triple murder. Ranjani, a young woman who had recently given birth to twin daughters, was found slaughtered along with her children in a rented house in a remote village. The bodies of Ranjani and her babies, just 17 days old, were discovered by Ranjani’s mother after she returned from a brief errand. All three victims had been viciously murdered with their throats slit. The incident sent shockwaves through the community and the authorities began an immediate investigation.
The initial investigation revealed that Ranjani’s ex-partner, Dibil Kumar, and his friend Rajesh, both Indian Army personnel, were prime suspects. The case quickly turned into a high-stakes manhunt, but both men had gone missing. In the years that followed, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2010, but despite their efforts, no new leads were found. The case eventually went cold, and no one was held accountable for the gruesome murders of Ranjani and her twin daughters.
A Breakthrough in 2024
Fast forward to 2024, when Kerala Police, under the leadership of ADGP (Law and Order) Manoj Abraham, decided to take a fresh look at old, unsolved cases through the lens of technology. In a groundbreaking move, they launched a new department focused on solving cold cases using digital tools and AI. One of the first cases the new department revisited was that of Ranjani’s murder.
In an effort to reexamine the evidence, the police took another look at photographs and witness statements from the 2006 investigation. They then turned to Artificial Intelligence to help create age-progressed images of the two prime suspects, Dibil Kumar and Rajesh. Using AI technology, the police were able to generate images of what the suspects would look like after nearly two decades, based on their last known photographs. The AI recreated these images with remarkable accuracy, factoring in changes in facial features, hair growth, and aging.
The AI Match
After weeks of reviewing the AI-generated images and scanning through public social media profiles across the state, the breakthrough came in December 2024. The AI-generated image of one of the suspects closely resembled a man named Praveen Kumar, who had posted a wedding photo with his wife on social media. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Praveen Kumar was, in fact, Rajesh, one of the two primary suspects in the 2006 murders.
The police team acted swiftly, tracing Rajesh to Puducherry, where he had relocated years earlier under a new identity. Surveillance was set up, and in a dramatic moment, the police confirmed his identity when he was spotted leaving his residence. Rajesh, now living a quiet life as an interior designer, was arrested on January 4, 2025.
The Arrest of Dibil Kumar
During questioning, Rajesh revealed that his accomplice, Dibil Kumar, was also living in Puducherry under a different name—Vishnu Kumar. Like Rajesh, Dibil had erased all traces of his past, severed ties with his family, and settled into a new life in Puducherry, working as an interior designer. With this critical information, the police soon tracked down Dibil, who was also arrested.
Both men, once soldiers in the Indian Army, had managed to completely erase their pasts and live normal lives for nearly two decades. They had changed their names, married local schoolteachers, and built successful careers in interior design, never suspecting that their past would catch up to them.
The Shocking Truth
Upon interrogation, Dibil and Rajesh revealed the horrifying truth about the murders. After Dibil had initially rejected Ranjani’s pregnancy, he and Rajesh plotted the murders to eliminate any evidence that could link him to the crime. The pair had meticulously planned the killings, believing that by fleeing to a remote part of the country and changing their identities, they could avoid detection for the rest of their lives. But justice, it seems, was never going to be so easily evaded.
Rajesh and Dibil were taken into custody and charged with three counts of murder. The Kerala Police informed the CBI, and the case was officially reopened, with the CBI now handling the prosecution.
A Technological Triumph
The case has been hailed as a monumental achievement for the Kerala Police, who not only cracked a cold case that had seemed unsolvable but also showcased the power of modern technology in criminal investigations. The use of AI to generate age-progressed images of suspects and match them to public records marks a pioneering step in law enforcement, possibly the first such use in the country for solving a cold case.
ADGP Manoj Abraham praised the effort, stating, “This is a prime example of how technology can be leveraged to bring justice. The AI-assisted breakthrough has not only revived an old case but also ensured that the killers, no matter how long they managed to evade the law, were finally brought to justice.”
The case also underscores the role of the Kerala Police’s digital and technical wing, which continues to push boundaries in crime-solving methods. The remarkable success of this investigation has made headlines across the country, and experts are now considering this case as a potential model for other states and law enforcement agencies to follow in solving cold cases.
Public Reaction and Media Attention
The news of the breakthrough in the case has left the people of Kerala in shock and disbelief. Many are horrified by the brutal nature of the crime, especially the murder of innocent 17-day-old babies at the hands of their own father. The emotional toll of the case has been felt across the state, with local news outlets and newspapers extensively covering the investigation.
For the families of Ranjani and her twin daughters, the sense of justice, though delayed, brings some semblance of closure. While the tragic loss of their loved ones will never be healed, they now have the knowledge that those responsible for their deaths will finally face the consequences of their actions.
Conclusion
The solving of the 19-year-old cold case in Kerala is a testament to the resilience of law enforcement, the innovative use of technology, and the unwavering pursuit of justice. It also serves as a reminder that no matter how much time passes, the truth has a way of coming to light. Kerala Police’s successful use of artificial intelligence to catch two men who thought they had escaped justice is an inspiring story for law enforcement agencies across the country, and perhaps the world.
For now, justice has been served, and the long-silenced voices of Ranjani and her daughters have been heard.
