Staged crash to pose as rescuer leads to arrest

A carefully staged road crash meant to cast a young man as a heroic rescuer unravelled within days, leaving two men in custody and facing charges of attempted murder after police traced a fleeing vehicle and pieced together a sequence of deliberate acts that placed a woman's life at risk.

- HD Bureau

Investigators say the plan centred on Ranjith Rajan, 24, from Mammoodu near Konni, who was in a relationship with the victim. According to the police account, Rajan persuaded an associate, Ajas, 19, of Payyanamon, to ram the woman’s scooter with a car so that he could appear moments later, rescue her, and win the confidence of her family by presenting himself as a devoted husband.

The scheme collapsed after witnesses flagged inconsistencies and officers tracked the car that sped away without stopping.

The incident took place on the evening of December 23 at Vazhamuttom East, near Pathanamthitta. The woman was riding her scooter along a local stretch when a car following her struck the vehicle from behind, throwing her to the ground. The driver did not slow or offer assistance, instead leaving the scene as bystanders rushed to help the injured rider.