In 2022, two women vanished months apart from different towns in South India. One sold lottery tickets on the streets of Kochi. The other went door to door, trying to make a living. Both disappeared without a trace.
For weeks, their families searched — hoping for answers, fearing the worst. When police finally traced their last phone signals, all roads led to a quiet village in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district. What they uncovered there would shock an entire nation.
Behind the walls of an ordinary-looking home in Elanthoor lay one of the most disturbing and tragic stories India has ever seen — a story of manipulation, misplaced faith, and two innocent lives caught in its shadow.
Who were these women?
What led three ordinary people down such a dark path?
And how did a web of lies turn belief into brutality?
Join us as we uncover the haunting story behind The Elanthoor Murders: The Occult Crimes That Shook Kerala.
Narrated by: Sonam and Shilpi
Music by: Josh Chowdhuri
Disclaimer:
This podcast discusses true crimes and real events. It contains descriptions of violence, psychological manipulation, and sensitive content that may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
All individuals mentioned in this podcast are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Interpretations in this episode are based on publicly available information and should not be considered definitive conclusions.
Our intention is to tell this story responsibly and respectfully, with empathy toward the victims and their families.
Follow us on Instagram and YouTube — @ViciousTales — for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and listener discussions.
Sources:
The News Minute
“The paradox of Bhagaval Singh: Progressive poet accused in Kerala’s human sacrifice case”
“Behind the human sacrifice, four years of planning by alleged mastermind Shafi” (Oct 12, 2022)
“Kerala human sacrifice case: How an entire state reacted to an unthinkable crime” (Oct 2022)
“Kerala’s collective shock and the questions of faith and vulnerability” (Oct 2022)
The New Indian Express
Coverage on the Elanthoor couple and investigation timeline
“Two years on, Elanthoor human sacrifice accused’s residence a ghost house” (Oct 12, 2024)
“How Kerala responded to the Elanthoor human sacrifice case” (Oct 2022)
Mathrubhumi English
Reports confirming the couple’s professional background and police findings
India Today / India Today Insight
“Details emerge of victims killed by accused arrested in Kerala human sacrifice case” (Oct 17, 2022)
“How police cracked the human sacrifice case in Kerala” (Oct 12, 2022)
“Victims’ families demand justice as Kerala reels under horror” (Oct 2022)
India Today Insight – “The psychology of control: How Shafi manipulated the couple in Kerala” (Oct 2022)
The Indian Express
“Kerala human sacrifice: Prime accused may have used his mortuary experience” (Oct 17, 2022)
Coverage of allegations and earlier criminal cases involving Mohammed Shafi (Oct 12, 2022)
The Hindu
“Elanthoor reels under shock after horrific killings” (Oct 2022)
“Kerala case: Beyond the crime — understanding manipulation and fear” (Editorial, Oct 2022)
NDTV
Reporting on Mohammed Shafi’s alleged role and prior cases (Oct 12, 2022)
Hindustan Times
“How the online relationship developed between ‘Sreedevi’ and Bhagaval” (Oct 12, 2022)
The Times of India
Coverage of investigation timeline and related updates
South China Morning Post (SCMP)
“Indian trio in Kerala arrested over alleged human sacrifice case” (Oct 13, 2022)
Sabrang India
“Two women killed in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, arrests made” (Oct 13, 2022)
BBC News
“Kerala human sacrifice case: What drives belief and control” (Oct 2022)
Wikipedia
Elanthoor Human Sacrifice Case – Chronology of investigation and arrests