{
  "id": 3916698,
  "title": "Thrissur man claims viral photo attributed to fugitive Sukumara Kurup is of his brother",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/thrissur-man-claims-viral-photo-attributed-to-fugitive-sukumara-kurup",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T07:30:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/thrissur-man-claims-viral-photo-attributed-to-fugitive-sukumara-kurup-is-of-his-brother/article71399512.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the wake of renewed claims suggesting fugitive Sukumara Kurup, a wanted man in the 1984 Chacko murder case in Kerala, is alive and residing in Brunei, a man from Thrissur has come forth with an assertion that the viral photograph attributed to Kurup actually depicts his brother. Karunakaran Menon, from Karumathra near Wadakkanchery in Thrissur, claims the individual in the photograph is his brother, Damodaran Menon, who has been living abroad in Malaysia for around three decades. This claim emerges following statements by retired police officer Ali Akbar who alleged that Kurup is indeed alive in Brunei, working within the construction industry, and maintaining contact with his wife and relatives overseas. However, Karunakaran Menon vehemently disputes the identification of the photograph. He claims that his brother Damodaran Menon reached out to his relatives a few months ago, but they have been unable to establish any form of communication with him since the photograph and related reports about Kurup began to circulate. According to Karunakaran Menon, Damodaran Menon has been grappling with poor health and has not returned home for several years. It is reported that he suffered health complications following a fall, he stated.",
  "summary": "Karunakaran Menon says his brother Damodaran Menon has been living in Malaysia for nearly 30 years",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Keralam Home Minister asks Crime Branch to verify reports Sukumara Kurup is alive",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/keralam-home-minister-asks-crime-branch-to-verify-reports-sukumara",
        "published": "2026-08-28T04:08:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Keralam Home Minister asks Crime Branch to verify reports fugitive Sukumara Kurup is alive",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/keralam-home-minister-asks-crime-branch-to-verify-reports-fugitive",
        "published": "2026-08-28T04:26:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}