Couple held for killing son over frequent harassment

The Ambattur Police on Monday arrested a couple, aged 57 and 54, on charges of murdering their 30-year-old son, an auto driver, following repeated harassment by him, which reportedly deprived them of sleep for over 10 days.

The victim was identified as Sridhar, who lived with his parents at Kalyanapuram near the Ambattur Police Station after separating from his wife. On Sunday morning, he was found dead under suspicious circumstances at their residence, and his parents were not present at the time. A neighbour spotted the body and alerted the police.

Following the information, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Frank D. Ruben, and other officers reached the spot and commenced an investigation after sending the body for a post-mortem. On suspicion, the police summoned the deceased’s father Manmadhan, 57, a butcher who was at his shop, and his wife Kalyani, 54, who was reportedly at their daughter’s house.

During interrogation, the couple confessed to the crime. Investigations revealed that after separating from his wife, Sridhar had become addicted to alcohol and frequently brought other women home. Under the influence of alcohol, he would often create a ruckus, vandalize the house, and assault his parents, causing them sleepless nights.

On Saturday night, when Manmadhan returned home, he found his wife Kalyani standing outside, afraid to enter as their son was inside creating chaos. Enraged, Manmadhan allegedly entered the house with a pork chopping knife and fatally slashed Sridhar’s neck. He then cleaned the bloodstains using a floor cleaner and fled on his bike after dropping Kalyani at their daughter’s house.

Later, in an attempt to divert suspicion, Manmadhan called a neighbour, Vijayakumar, asking him to check whether ₹3,000 he had kept on the almirah was still there or taken by his son. When the neighbour went to the house, he found Sridhar lying dead and informed the police. The police subsequently arrested Manmadhan for murdering his son and Kalyani for abetting the crime. Further investigation is under way.