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From rescue to ‘attempted murder’: How a Kerala man’s attempt to ‘win back girlfriend’ backfired

A Kerala woman was injured in a hit-and-run case on December 23. This week, two men were arrested for having staged the accident in an attempt to patch up a broken relationship.

2 min readThiruvananthapuramUpdated: Jan 7, 2026 11:00 PM IST

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A case of road accident was registered that evening, sub-inspector Shiju P. Sam, who probed the case, said.

He had it all carefully planned. He would have his ex-girlfriend knocked off her scooter and then swoop in to rescue her. Then, investigators caught on.

A man and his friend were arrested earlier this week in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district after investigators found that a road crash injuring a young woman had allegedly been staged by her ex-boyfriend in an attempt to win her back.

Ranjith Raja, a 24-year-old native of Mamood in Pathanamthitta district, and his friend Ajas (19), also from the district, allegedly planned the hit-and-run after the woman recently broke up with Ranjith.

On the evening of December 23, the woman, a 21-year-old college student, was riding her two-wheeler when a hatchback hit her at Vazhamuttom East, causing her to fall off the scooter. According to police, as a crowd gathered, Ranjith, who works on a ship, arrived at the spot in a blue SUV, took her to a hospital and later dropped her home.

A case of road accident was registered that evening, sub-inspector Shiju P. Sam, who probed the case, said.

“The woman in her statement said she knew the rescuer as her former lover,” he said. “That revelation gave the first twist. We also examined the CCTV visuals in the area and spoke to local people, who said Ranjith had told them he is the husband of the accident victim. He was tracked down, leading to the expose of the crime.”

According to police, the suspect chose the location knowing it was the route the victim took every day. The car used to hit the woman has also been traced, the officer said.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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