Hours before a businessman and his family members in Kurichi were to be murdered at their residence on Monday morning, the Coimbatore City Police arrested four persons, and later the businessman’s son-in-law for plotting the crime.
The police seized two billhooks, as many gloves, a liquor bottle, and ganja from S. Gomathisankar, 22, of Sankarankoil; V. Nagaraj, 23, of Palladam; S. Ranjith, 26, of Thanjavur; and A. Prabhakran, 23, of Tiruchi.
They seized an yet-to-be numbered white car, which belonged to G. Vigneswaran, 25, who had given the new car to the accused, and paid an advance of Rs. 40,000 to kill his father-in-law Manickam, mother-in-law Rajeswari, and brother-in-law Murali Krishnan.
Vigneswaran ran GV Aviation that has a branch in Thanjavur.
He had incurred loss in the business and wanted money to offset the loss.
City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan told reporters here on Monday that Vigneswaran’s motive was to grab the property belonging to Mr. Manickam, and his family members, to clear his debts.
The murder plot came to light just past midnight on Monday when a police team led by Sub Inspector S. Gnanasekaran during a routine night patrolling saw a car without bearing registration number, parked beneath the Eachanari flyover.
When the team questioned the occupants of the car, they got conflicting answers.
On searching the car, the team found a liquor bottle, and ganja. And, beneath the seat, two billhooks, and gloves were found.
Mr. Viswanathan said that the police found a sketch of Manickam’s, and its surrounding areas in the car. They were immediately taken to the Podanur Police Station. A thorough inquiry revealed the plot.
They came to Coimbatore at the behest Vigneswaran who wanted to finish off Manickam, Rajeswari, and Murali Krishnan for two reasons — to get their property to clear his debts, and avenge his going to jail in March based on their complaint.
Mr. Manickam had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that Vigneswaran, had harassed his daughter Nisha Priya after their marriage seven months ago.
The police had arrested Vigneswaran, and his father. It was in the Coimbatore Prison that Vigneswaran befriended Gomathisankar, and Nagaraj. Out on bail, he hired the two, his employee in Thanjavur Ranjith, and his friend Prabhakaran to murder his in-laws.
The police arrested Vigneswaran from Tirupur.
He told the police that a few days ago, Ranjith was in Kurichi to prepare a sketch of the house, and its surrounding areas to help the others reach Mr. Manickam’s house.
All the five were produced before a court and have been remanded in judicial custody.
