Cinema was Sajiv’s dream, but fraud turned out to be his reality. Wanted in a ₹4.39 lakh gold loan scam, Sajiv—a resident of Kumaranalloor in Kerala—plotted a bizarre escape from the law by scripting and publishing his own obituary. The cinematic stunt aimed to put an end to police pursuit and public suspicion. But the Kottayam police, refusing to let the story end there, rewrote the script and arrested Sajiv in Kodaikanal on charges of fraud.
Sajiv had secured loans by pledging fake gold at two financial institutions in Thoothootty and Variseri. When the fraud came to light in 2023, he disappeared. Despite initial dead ends, Gandhinagar police revived the case in 2024 and began tracking his movements across Tamil Nadu.
From Dreams of the Big Screen to a Real-Life Chase
Investigators discovered that Sajiv had shared his filmmaking ambitions with several close friends and had relocated to Kumaranalloor after his marriage. He cut off contact with his family, further fueling police suspicion. Based on these insights, they traced his connections to Chennai, where he had begun setting up a film production company.
“We understand that he planned to pool funds from those who shared his dream of entering the film industry. We could collect information that he was actively trying to kick off production plans,” said a senior police official involved in the investigation.
Further tip-offs revealed Sajiv’s presence in Adayar, followed by a move to Kodaikanal. A team from Gandhinagar police station followed the lead, ultimately arresting him early morning on a Friday from the hill station.
A Life of Lies and Loopholes
To throw off anyone who might be looking for him—including those he allegedly owed money—Sajiv published a fake obituary under an alias. The notice even listed fictitious children and claimed a funeral would be held in Adayar, using emotional manipulation as a diversion tactic. His goal: disappear into the world of cinema and start anew.
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His earlier life, however, told a different story. Sajiv had previously been involved in the construction business, which collapsed under the weight of COVID-era losses. Drowning in debt, he turned to pledging fake gold as a means of securing quick funds.
He was finally produced before the judicial first class magistrate court in Kottayam on Saturday. Officers Anuraj, Sathyan, Anoop, and Renjith from Gandhinagar police station were part of the team that brought down the man who dreamed in scripts but lived in schemes.