Police have arrested a man and a college student for allegedly murdering a young woman five months after her marriage and attempting to pass it off as an accidental death near Ponneri in Tiruvallur district.
The victim, Kausalya (20) of Athiwakkam village, had married Rajesh (30), a construction worker from Perumpedu village near Ponneri, five months ago. On February 5, Rajesh informed Kausalya’s father Murugan that she had slipped on the floor at home, suffered a severe head injury and died.
However, suspicion arose after relatives noticed nail scratch marks on Kausalya’s face and injuries on her lips and head. Following a complaint lodged by Kausalya’s mother, the Ponneri police registered a case and launched an intensive investigation.
Police found that Rajesh was having an illicit relationship with Deepika (21), a second-year M.Com student studying at a college in Korukkupettai, Chennai. Investigators said the relationship continued even after Rajesh’s marriage, leading to frequent objections from Kausalya.
According to police, Rajesh and Deepika later rented a room at a lodge in Gummidipoondi, where they allegedly planned the murder. Rajesh is said to have smothered Kausalya with a pillow and banged her head against a wall. He then staged the scene to appear as if she had slipped on cooking oil spilled on the floor.
Based on the findings, police arrested Rajesh and Deepika and are continuing further investigation.
