Man, 67, facing murder charge over wife’s death days before her 60th birthday, was active in charity work.
S Sugathan was known in the UAE not only as a successful businessman, but also as a quiet philanthropist who helped build homes for poor families in Kerala and dreamed of creating a community centre where senior citizens could gather, pray and spend their later years in peace.
That is why news of his death — and the murder case registered against him in connection with the death of his wife, Latha, who would have turned 60 on May 28 — has left friends and members of the Indian expat community in Ras Al Khaimah struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
As previously reported, the couple were found dead in Kerala just hours before they were scheduled to return to the UAE on Saturday. Kerala Police confirmed on Tuesday that a murder case had been registered against Sugathan in connection with his wife’s death, while a separate case of unnatural death was filed regarding his own passing. Authorities said the post-mortem report is expected within a week and investigations remain ongoing.
“Could never imagine”
AK Sethunath, a long-time resident of Ras Al Khaimah and community volunteer, said he had known Sugathan since the early 1990s, when he helped him secure some of the first contracts for his building construction business in the emirate.
“He went on to construct several government buildings and private villas in Ras Al Khaimah. Many officials, as well as Emirati and Arab residents, knew and respected him,” AK Sethunath told Gulf News.
“He had also operated a successful electro-mechanical company before eventually closing it down, while his construction business continued to thrive. Despite his wealth and success, he remained humble and grounded.”
AK Sethunath described S Sugathan as a philanthropist who consistently supported underprivileged families during his years in the UAE.
In addition to building five homes for poor families in Kerala, Sugathan had been working towards what Sethunath described as his biggest dream — establishing a community centre with a prayer hall and other facilities where elderly residents could gather and spend their later years with dignity and companionship.
“We still cannot believe he would do something like this,” AK Sethunath said.
According to him, S Sugathan was deeply devoted to his family and shared what appeared to be a happy married life with his wife. “From what we know, it seems consistent with what the police suggested — that it may have been an act committed in a moment of sudden provocation,” he added.
AK Sethunath also said the absence of a suicide note raised further questions in the minds of those close to the couple.
“If it had been a mutual decision, they would likely have left behind a note. The fact that no note was found makes many of us believe this may have been something entirely different,” he said.
Winding up life in the UAE
Sethunath revealed that S Sugathan had been making plans to gradually wind down his life in the UAE and settle permanently in Kerala. According to him, Sugathan had been looking to sell his company and had even asked for help in finding potential buyers.
“I introduced a team and discussions progressed to the point where the deal was nearly finalised. However, the couple said they had already planned a holiday trip to north India and would complete the formalities after returning,” Sethunath explained.
He added that Sugathan intended to sell most of his shares while retaining a smaller stake in the company in order to maintain his investor visa in the UAE.
Sethunath also recalled that Sugathan had spoken about developing his property in Kerala and embracing a quieter life after retirement.
“He often said he wanted some peace and a calm retirement,” he said.
Long queues at the funeral
Prasad Sreedharan, another long-time resident of Ras Al Khaimah, travelled nearly two hours within Kerala to attend the couple’s funeral while visiting India on a short break. What he witnessed there, he said, reflected the deep respect many people had for S Sugathan.
“There was a long queue of vehicles carrying people who had come to pay their respects. That alone showed the kind of person he was,” Sreedharan said.
As previously reported, the couple’s bodies were buried instead of cremated — an uncommon practice for a Hindu family — reportedly to preserve the remains in case investigators require further examination.
Sreedharan said Sugathan was widely admired in the neighbourhood surrounding his home in Kollam. According to him, Sugathan regularly organised two community gatherings each year, inviting neighbours and well-wishers from across the area.
“Residents there told me he never failed to host those gatherings,” Sreedharan added.
Prasad Sreedharan said S Sugathan had also been an active member of his community group in Ras Al Khaimah, and the two remained in regular contact over the years.
“He was always generous in supporting community programmes and events. Through his construction company, he became well known among many Arab and Emirati residents whose villas he helped build,” Sreedharan said.
He added that Sugathan had purchased property in Ras Al Khaimah and built what he considered his dream home there, recalling that he had personally attended the housewarming ceremony. According to Sreedharan, the families also shared a close bond, with Sugathan and his wife attending his children’s wedding ceremonies in Kerala.
Business recovery and recent holiday
Sreedharan said Sugathan’s business, like many others, had slowed during the Covid-19 pandemic but had seen a strong recovery over the past two years. In addition to construction, he had also ventured into the hospitality sector in Kerala, operating a 45-room three-star hotel before later leasing it out.
He added that just two weeks before the tragedy, the couple had travelled to north India on a holiday along with around 10 family members — something that has made the incident even more difficult for friends and acquaintances to understand.
“They had booked tickets to return to the UAE on Saturday evening. In fact, on Friday, they had already dropped off their luggage at the airport for early check-in, which was something they routinely did. Sadly, they never boarded that flight,” Prasad Sreedharan said.
According to him, the family frequently travelled between Ras Al Khaimah and Kerala, maintaining homes in both Thiruvananthapuram and Kadakkal, where the tragedy took place.
“I still cannot understand what happened. Some people may speculate that there were issues between them, but I would never have imagined something like this,” he added.
