In a quick turn of events, C. Ramasamy (65) of Adaikampatti in Perambalur district, who was initially reported to have died in a road accident, was actually done to death by his family members a few days ago, the police said.
The murder came to light after a special team of the Perambalur police picked up a few family members of the victim for an inquiry acting on discreet information.
The police arrested Ramasamy’s daughters Vijaya (30), Malathi (27), Sivakumar – husband of Malathi and grandson Arunkumar alias Manikandan (20) on the charge of committing the murder for property. The murder was committed a few days ago at the farm of Ramasamy, a farmer.
Narrating the sequence of events, police sources said that acting on initial information that Ramasamy had died in a road accident close to a TASMAC liquor outlet after allegedly having consumed alcohol, a fatal accident case was initially registered by the Padalur police.
However, the police received information from some locals of Adaikampatti who suspected a foul play in Ramasamy’s death. Hence, the special team was constituted.
The team swung into action and picked up Sivakumar, his wife Malathi, Vijaya and Arunkumar alias Manikandan as part of their probe. All the four were inquired separately by the team during which they reportedly gave contradictory statements fuelling a suspicion.
Sivakumar reportedly confessed that he along with the other three had murdered Ramasamy, said the police. According to police, Ramasamy was done to death apparently using wooden logs when he was lying on the cot in his farm.
The police team which went to the spot taking along with them Sivakumar found blood stains on the cot. The family of Ramasamy had claimed to the locals that he had died in a road accident triggering suspicion among some villagers.
The crime was committed allegedly to take over Ramasamy’s lands and other property valued at around ₹10 lakh, the police said.
Ramasamy had been staying alone and his near ones feared that some body else might take over his property prompting them to commit the crime, said the police. The Padalur police have now altered it as a case of murder and arrested the four on Sunday and remanded them in judicial custody.
