Jayalalithaa's Kodanad, an estate shrouded in mystery

Just 10 km away from Kodanad view point, begins the famed Kodanad estate of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Surrounded by hills and tea plantations that have been around for two centuries, Kodanad became Tamil Nadu's 'pseudo-secretariat' after Jayalalithaa came to power.

As chief minister, Jayalalithaa took great care of this hillside heaven, a fortress that was guarded 24/7 by both state police and private security. She liked to take boat trips on the lake situated within the estate, and spend time in the bungalow. Like in the Secretariat, Jayalalitha used a separate path to enter her bungalow.

Jayalalitha's niece Deepa Madhavan, who has visited the estate with her aunt, said the bungalow was a treat for anyone who stayed there.

"The bungalow looked entirely different every time I visited it because - (with Jayalalithaa) having so much faith in 'vasthu shastra' - it was pulled down and redecorated many times", she claimed.

It's still unclear who owns the property, but Deepa said Kodanad estate wasn'tJayalalitha's ancestral property. "It was in her name at some point but I don't know who its current owner is now", she claimed.

OM BAHADUR'S MURDER

With the murder of Om Bahadur, a security guard at Kodanad, the estate once again became the talk of the town.

Bahadur was found dead on April 23, and his colleague Krishna Bahadur was deeply wounded. Police said 11 men travelling in an Innova, an Endeavour and a Santro had attempted to break intob the estate.

Stationed at Gate 10, Om Bahadur confronted the dacoits. who attacked him. They accidentally strangulated him to death when tried to shut him up using a towel.

The gang left the bungalow by 2pm, according to police records. The vehicles ran into police personnel near a checkpost, and while the Endeavour was stopped, the Innova escaped. The men were questioned at the checkpost.

Police noticed that they had four watches and a crystal rhinoceros figurine. But thinking that the men weren't harmful, they let them go.

Nilagiri SP Murali Rambha later identified the accused based on suspicion, and the fact that their phones were switched off - and his hunch was right.

11 men were accused, and two of them - Kanagaraj and Sayan - were suspiciously involved in an accident. Kanagaraj died.

Thanks to Sayan, Kanagaraj - a former driver from Kodanadu - was identified as the mastermind.

Sayan claimed that only Kanagaraj knew what was taken from the bungalow, so cops hit a dead end.

WHO OWNS THE KODANADU ESTATE?

"Incidentally, a day before (the) Kodanad murder, a fire breaks out at another property of Jayalalithaa's at Siridhavur. Also, within a week's period Deepak claims that he has Jayalalitha's will and that all her property belongs to him. Don't you see a mystery behind it?", asked Deepa Madhavan.

"A lot of trespassers and a lot of outsiders and people who were not directly employed by my aunt are all living here and in other estates", she claimed, pointing out the vulnerability of Jayalalitha's properties, which could fall into the wrong hands.

Incidentally, Aarumugasamy, the person who allegedly used to took care of the estate, is accused of having acquired massive sand mining deals before 'Sekar Reddy' got involved in the occupation.

Aarumugasamy explained that he was taking care of the property on behalf of Jayalalitha, and had a manager called Dakshinamurthy.

"Many are claiming ownership of the estate after Jayalalitha's death. But as far as I know, the previous owner sold it to Udayar (Ramchandra Udayar of Ramachandra Hospitals) and then the shares moved to Jayalalitha, Sasikala and some of her relatives' hands", he explained.

Another person who was involved in Kodanad business said the current manager's name was Natrajan, and that Aarumugasamy ended his involvement with the estate once Jayalalithaa went to the Parapanna Agrahara prison in Bengaluru.

"They used to move in and out money from there (before demonetisation). I think these men got greedy thinking of that factor. Bur nothing is there now. Everything was moved (a) long time back", he explained.

With no one coming forward to claim the property after Jayalalitha's death, it's still unclear who the current owner of this 'little piece of Heaven on Earth' is.

ALSO READ | Kodanad estate: Original owner speaks up, says was forced to sell estate to Amma, VK Sasikala

ALSO READ | Kodanad estate murder case: Stolen artefacts from Jaya's estate recovered

ALSO WATCH | Was harassed by Sasikala, threatened by gundas to sell property: Former owner of Kodanad estate