The police team probing the murder of Santha, 61, whose body was found inside the waste dumping pit of an unoccupied house at Oonnukal in Kothamangalam, has intensified search for the suspect, identified as Rajesh from Mannamkavala in Adimali, who was known to the victim.
Police sources said Rajesh used to work as a cook at a hotel near the house from where the victim’s body was recovered on Friday. The police suspect the accused chose the house to hide the victim’s body knowing well that the building was unoccupied. It is not confirmed if the murder took place at the house, some 40 km from the victim’s house at Vengoor near Perumbavoor. Rajesh had also worked at Vengoor, the police said. They found the identity of the suspect based on CCTV footage and mobile phone records.
The police suspect that around nine sovereigns of gold were stolen and later sold by the suspect, an investigation officer said.
Santha’s body was found in a decomposed state on Friday (August 22), days after she left home after telling her family that she was going to a hospital on August 17.
Published – August 25, 2025 01:22 am IST
