Security guard murder: One key suspect killed, another injured (Eds: Updating with SP's press meet details)

A former driver of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and one of the main suspects in the security guard's murder at a bungalow in Kodanadu Estate, which was frequented by her, died in a road accident today while four persons were arrested.
Kanakaraj died after his two-wheeler hit a car at Athur in Salem district, the police said.
Another suspect and close friend of Kankaraj, Sayan was seriously injured while his wife and child died in a road accident involving their two-wheeler and a car in Kerala's Thrissur district today, they said.
Sayan has been admitted to a hospital in Coimbatore.

According to police, Kanakaraj had plotted the crime with 10 others, including Sayan, a native of Coimbatore.
The estate figures in the disproportionate assets case involving jailed AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala and Jayalalithaa, among others.

A security guard posted at the bungalow at nearby Kodanad Estate was found dead on April 24, while some documents were suspected to have been stolen from there.
While 40-year-old Om Bahadur was found dead, another guard was found seriously injured.
Superintendent of Police Murali Ramba told reporters at Udhagamandalam that investigation has revealed involvement of 11 persons in the case, out of which four have been arrested today.

Kanakaraj, who hailed from Salem, conspired the dacoity with ten others, including Sayan from Coimbatore. As per the probe so far, the motive was loot, the SP said.
The four arrested have been identified has Santhosh Samy, Deepu, Sathishan and Uday Kumar, all from Thrissur in Kerala. Five others are still at large, he said.
The four were taken into custody yesterday for questioning. Their involvement in the crime has been proved through meticulous investigation and collection of scientific evidence, the officer said.
All of them had planned the dacoity based on Kanakaraj's information that a huge amount of cash was reportedly there in the bungalow, the official said, adding they used three cars to go to the site of crime.

They first assaulted security guard Krishna Thapa and tied him near gate number eight of the estate. Then they killed Om Bahadur at gate number 10 by gagging and tying him to a tree, he said.
Later, they broke open the doors of three rooms of the bunglow, including those used by Jayalalithaa and her confidante Sasikala. They could not find any cash but took away five watches and a crystal showpiece, the officer said.
The crystal showpiece has been recovered. The arrested accused said they threw the watches in a river in Kerala, he said, adding investigation is underway.

The police had earlier said one or two suitcases at the bungalow were found prised open, but it was not clear what was inside those.
Judicial Magistrate S Senthil Kumar has held inquiries with Sayan, at the hospital regarding the accident, police said.