Jagratha 1989

Death of Aswathi discovered

Actress Aswathi is found hanging in her hotel room and is pronounced dead. DYSP Devadas begins the initial investigation, tentatively treating it as a suicide. However, mounting public pressure leads authorities to transfer the case to the CBI for a more exhaustive probe.

CBI takes over with Sethu at the helm

The Kerala government transfers the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation and assigns Sethurama Iyer, with two juniors Vikram and Chacko, to complete the investigation under a tight deadline. They start rechecking the scene, witness statements, and potential leads. The team sets up a fresh plan focusing on what might actually have happened.

Physical impossibility raises murder suspicions

Sethu discovers that Aswathi, at 5 feet 4 inches, could not reach the ceiling hook even with the tallest furniture. Grease stains on the saree imply it could be used to pull the body up, suggesting that the death is not suicide. These findings point toward homicide and prompt a search for a real killer.

First suspects and early theories

Investigators identify four possible suspects: Viswam, a defamed actor; Babu, a local goon hired to commit the murder; Bhargavan, a former minister who molested Aswathi; and Mohan Nair, Aswathi's fiancé with no alibi. Interviews and background checks begin to narrow the field. The case becomes a complex web of motives.

Babu's break-in confirms foul play

Babu breaks into Aswathi's hotel room, but discovers the scene already shows she has died. His involvement is questioned, and investigators realize the intruder angle is a red herring that shifts the focus elsewhere. This turn deepens the mystery rather than solving it.

Red herrings: anonymous calls and alibi gaps

An anonymous phone call is traced to a public telephone box near the railway station, intended to mislead the inquiry about the timing and location of the murder. Calls were made to both the hotel and Mohan's home, adding confusion. The team notes these diversions as critical red herrings.

Saree mystery and the tall purchaser

The saree used for the hanging is a brand-new piece bought near the KSRTC station. The shop owner recalls a customer who was six feet tall, and that a call from the railway station connected that person to both the hotel and a lawyer's home. The link begins to point away from Viswam and Babu.

Initial lead shifts toward Mohan Nair

Given the alibi gaps and the new evidence linking a tall buyer to the saree and the phone calls, investigators turn attention toward Mohan Nair, Aswathi's fiancé. Sethu expresses confidence in having enough evidence to charge him, prompting tense resistance from Mohan's circle. The case begins to tighten around him.

Janardhanan's intervention and confession that shifts the case

Janardhanan, Mohan's lawyer and the saree's contact, challenges the case and asks to disprove it. Faced with pressure, he gradually reveals that he was not present at the scene and that there is a deeper truth behind Mohan's absence. His accidental confession eventually reveals that he knows Mohan couldn't have been there.

The truth emerges: Janardhanan and Ramesh as killers

Under pressure, Janardhanan admits he was the killer, not Mohan, and reveals that his aide Ramesh, who is six feet tall, helped purchase the saree and execute the crime. Investigators connect the chain of calls, purchases, and relationships to place them at the center of the murder. The case begins to resolve around the actual perpetrators.

Motive revealed: family secrets and social pressures

Janardhanan reveals a secret: he had an affair with Rukmini, the mother of Aswathi, who gave birth to Aswathi. He opposed Aswathi's relationship with Mohan, fearing social stigma. This motive provides a grim backdrop to the murder and explains the conspirators' actions.