Saranya being escorted by the police (file)
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In a dramatic turn of events, Saranya, the mother accused of killing her one-and-a-half-year-old son by throwing him onto a seawall in 2020, reportedly attempted suicide by consuming poison just as the trial was set to commence at a court at Taliparamba in Kannur, Kerala, on Monday (January 20, 2025).

Saranya, a native of Thayyil in Kannur, is currently undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where her condition is reported to be stable.

According to the police, the killing occurred on February 17, 2020, and was allegedly driven by Saranya’s desire to continue her relationship with her lover, Nithin. Investigations revealed that Saranya, embroiled in disputes with her husband Pranav, killed the child to sever ties with her family and live with her paramour.

Saranya, who had been released on bail with a condition barring her from entering Kannur district, had been residing in Chennai. She arrived in Kozhikode by train on the eve of the trial after making a booking at a lodge near the railway station. Around 6 a.m., she was found in a weakened state at the Kozhikode railway station, where she admitted to having consumed poison. She was rushed to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Uncertainty over trial

The trial, which was set to begin in the Taliparamba court, now remains uncertain as authorities assess Saranya’s medical condition.

The 2020 incident had sent shockwaves in the region. Saranya was accused of taking her sleeping son from a locked house and heading to the beach in the early hours. She allegedly threw the child against a seawall, causing severe head injuries, before choking him to death. The child’s body was discovered on the beach, sparking suspicion and prompting an investigation.

Initially, suspicion fell on Pranav, the child’s father, who filed a complaint alleging foul play. However, the case took a decisive turn when forensic examination found salt water and sand on Saranya’s clothes. Scientific evidence and a series of missed calls from Nithin during the night of the killing became crucial in proving her involvement.

Conflicting allegations

During questioning, both Saranya and Pranav made conflicting accusations, complicating the investigation.

However, forensic evidence unravelled the case.

(Suicide Prevention Helpline: Disha – 1056, 0471-2552056)