Death of woman in Kothamangalam: SIT likely to arraign parents of the accused

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the death of a 23-year-old woman at Kothamangalam is likely to arraign the parents of the accused, Rameez, as well.

The investigation team, led by the Muvattupuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP), continues to keep its action under the wrap though it is reliably learnt that the parents may be charged based on the revelations in the suicide note, reportedly written by the victim. The note alleged that Rameez through his family forced her for religious conversion as a precondition for marrying her.

The victim was found hanging in her house at Kothamangalam on Saturday (August 09, 2025). Initially, the Kothamangalam police registered a case of unnatural death. However, the police stumbled upon the suicide note during the preparation of Mahassar on Sunday, based on which Rameez was arrested the next day.

Though there were reports that the accused’s parents would be summoned for questioning, the police haven’t made any move yet.

Kin’s allegation

The SIT was constituted after the police came under pressure as the kin of the victim and right wing political parties alleged that the woman was a victim of attempted forceful religious conversion. The Kothamangalam police, which initially investigated the case, had ruled that out, as they found it to be a case of a failed affair. Dissatisfied with the police investigation, the family of the victim petitioned the Chief Minister on Tuesday (August 12,2025) and the State Police Chief demanding that a probe be conducted by the National Investigation Agency. They accused the police of charging only lenient clauses against the accused and demanded that he and his parents be charged for attempted forceful religious conversion.

Statements being collected

The SIT has been collecting statements from friends, relatives and others who qualify as witnesses and sifting through the Call Detail Records of the victim and the accused. The investigation team is likely to get the custody of the accused by Monday (August 18, 2025).

The accused was booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means etc), 108 (abetment to suicide), and 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) on charges that he slapped her.

(Suicide Prevention Helpline: DISHA – 1056)