Drishya murder: Escaped accused was in Mumbai under fake identity

Kozhikode: The prime accused in the Perinthalmanna Drishya murder case who escaped from govt mental health centre at Kuthiravattom was recaptured and brought to Kozhikode on Sunday.Kunduparambil Vineesh, 25, of Uthuvelli, escaped from the forensic cell of the hospital on Dec 30, 2025.He was hiding in Mumbai under the fake name Charly. Police sources said that the accused was taking up small jobs, including scrap collection and as a fisherman, to stay in hiding. He tried to contact his friends via internet call, leading to police getting a tip-off. A special team combed through hundreds of CCTV footage and tracked him down to Kalyan near Mumbai. He was eventually arrested near CST railway station in Mumbai.Vineesh was a remand inmate at Kannur central jail. After he exhibited mental health issues, he was shifted to the Kuthiravattom facility two weeks before the escape. Staff at the mental health centre noticed his absence in the cell during inspection at night. The accused allegedly drilled a hole in the washroom and scaled the compound wall to escape from the facility. This was the second time that Vineesh escaped from the mental health centre. He escaped from the forensic cell in Aug 2022 and was later nabbed from Dharmasthala in Karnataka.In June 2021, Vineesh stabbed 21-year-old Drishya, a second-year law student, to death at Elamkulam after she spurned his romantic advances. He also set fire to the toy and stationery shop owned by Drishya's father at Perinthalmanna before the murder. Drishya's family had expressed concerns for their safety after he escaped.