Kochi, Feb 19 (IANS): The family of the late actor Kalabhavan Mani in Kerala may now approach the judiciary for redress as the probe into his death has reached nowhere, his family said.

Hugely popular 45-year-old Mani, who acted in 200 films in Malayalam and other languages, was admitted to a hospital in Kochi on March 4 last year and passed away two days later.

Speaking to the media, the actor's brother R.L.V. Ramakrishnan said that it is strange that despite evidence from scientific reports that the death occurred due to poisoning, the police have not been able to take forward the probe from there.

"The scientific reports state the presence of two poisonous substances, but so far the police remain clueless about what happened. We will soon decide on what needs to be done in the case and approaching the judiciary is also an option," he said.

A CBI probe into the death was sought soon after the new Pinarayi Vijayan-led government assumed office in May last year, but the police did not show any interest to take it up, Ramakrishnan added.

A few of the actor's close aides who were present at his farmhouse when he collapsed had undergone the lie-detector test earlier, but the police were unable to crack the case which has ruffled the family of the actor.