The Thiruvananthapuram rural police, which have apprehended all accused in the murder of a Poovar native in Amboori, have intensified the collection of evidences in the case.
The probe currently proceeded under the firm belief that the murder was pre-meditated and undertaken with careful planning. The investigation team on Sunday interrogated the prime accused Akhil, who was taken into custody as soon as he had arrived in the Thiruvananthapuram international airport a day ago.
Following an initial round of questioning at the office of the Neyyattinkara DySP S. Anil Kumar, the accused was shifted to the Poovar police station. He will be taken to the crime scene on Monday before being produced at the court.
He purportedly revealed to the police that he had plotted the murder after the victim, Rakhi, stood in the way of his plans to marry another woman. Despite demanding that she withdrew from their relationship, the victim did not relent to his demand and threatened to disrupt his life, Akhil told the investigators.
Meanwhile, Akhil’s brother Rahul has been remanded to judicial custody until August 9.
Custody of accused
The investigation team intended to seek the custody of all of the three accused including Adarsh, who had been arrested around a week ago, to unravel the conspiracy that went into committing the crime.
In Rahul’s remand report, the investigation team stated that the crime was planned well in advance. The pit in which Rakhi was buried was dug a few days prior to the murder and the gang had purchased a large quantity of salt that was used to scatter on the dead body to eliminate the stench.
Akhil had allegedly picked Rakhi from Neyyattinkara on the pretext that he wanted to show her his house. On reaching the house, Rahul got into the car and suffocated her until she lost consciousness. Later, Akhil brought a plastic rope, using which the duo strangulated her to death, the report said.
The gang also removed her clothes, which they burnt and scattered the ashes in various locations. They also allegedly damaged Rakhi’s mobile phone and used her SIM card in one of their phones to send messages to her family to mislead them, the investigators said.
The police are also examining the veracity of allegations that Akhil’s father Maniyan was part of the conspiracy.
