Accused held after 24-hour manhunt; police suspect deeper family-linked crime
Kochi, April 28 (H.S.): Police have arrested Saji (43), a key suspect in the Nedumkandam double murder case in Kerala’s Idukki district, following an intensive search operation that lasted over 24 hours.
Saji, the younger son of Marykutty and brother of Reji—believed to be the victims—had been absconding since Sunday evening after fleeing his residence when police arrived for questioning.
According to officials, he ran away after spotting a police vehicle near his house, prompting a large-scale search operation involving drones, sniffer dogs, and multiple police teams. A bag believed to belong to him was recovered near the house after a sniffer dog led investigators to the location.
On Tuesday morning, police teams resumed the search and eventually tracked him down to a hilly area behind his residence at Thottuvakkada using drone surveillance.
Murder Investigation
The case surfaced after human remains were discovered in the courtyard of Marykutty’s house in Pachadi, Nedumkandam. Police suspect the remains belong to Marykutty (70) and her elder son Reji (48), who had been missing since April 2.
Investigators believe the victims were murdered and buried within the premises. Saji, who lived with them, has been taken into custody, and officials say his interrogation will be crucial in determining the sequence of events and his involvement.
Link to Past Disappearance
Police have also reopened the 2018 disappearance case of Marykutty’s husband, Mathew, to examine possible links with the current investigation. Authorities suspect a potential pattern of foul play within the family.
Security was tightened across the region during the search, with Tamil Nadu Police alerted and border checkposts monitored to prevent any escape attempt.
Officials said the bodies will be handed over to relatives after post-mortem examinations, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
(With inputs from H.S.) Inputs & Images courtesy: Hindusthan Samachar (H.S.)
Edited by: Dikshita Bollu
Last Updated on: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 3:48 pm by Bollu Dikshitha | Published by: Bollu Dikshitha on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 3:48 pm | News Categories: India
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