A case initially reported as an accidental snakebite death in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district has been exposed as a premeditated murder, allegedly planned and executed by the victim’s own sons to claim life insurance payouts worth nearly ₹3 crore.
The chilling plot came to light after an insurance company flagged suspicious circumstances surrounding multiple high-value policies taken on the victim, triggering a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.
Insurance alert unravels the truth
The victim, 56-year-old E.P. Ganesan, a government school laboratory assistant, was found dead at his home in Pothaturpettai village in October. His family initially told police that he had died due to a snakebite, and the death was registered as accidental.
However, while processing insurance claims, the insurer raised red flags over the unusually large number of policies and the conduct of the beneficiaries. The matter was escalated to the Inspector General of Police, North Zone, Asra Garg, leading to a deeper investigation.
Superintendent of Police, Tiruvallur, Vivekananda Shukla, said, “The sons had insured their father for nearly ₹3 crore. This immediately raised suspicion and warranted a detailed probe.”
Failed attempt before final act
Investigators found that the murder was not impulsive but carefully planned. According to police, the sons had earlier attempted to kill their father about a week before his death by arranging for a cobra to bite him on the leg. That attempt failed as the venom did not prove fatal.
Determined to carry out the crime, the conspirators escalated their plan. On the day of the offence, a highly venomous krait snake was brought into the house in the early hours and deliberately made to bite Ganesan on the neck — a location considered almost certainly fatal.
Scene staged to mimic accident
After the bite, the snake was killed inside the house to reinforce the narrative of an accidental intrusion and to destroy crucial evidence. Investigators also noted an unexplained delay in taking the victim to hospital, further strengthening the case for murder rather than a medical emergency.
“The delay and the manner in which the scene was staged were inconsistent with a genuine attempt to save the victim,” a senior police officer said.
Six arrested, probe continues
Police have arrested six persons in connection with the case, including Ganesan’s two sons and four facilitators who allegedly procured the snakes and helped stage the crime. Further investigation is underway to trace the full conspiracy and examine whether similar attempts were made earlier.
The case has shocked the region, highlighting how insurance fraud can sometimes escalate into extreme and violent crimes.