Believed to be accidental death, murder for gain discovered: Man held for murdering elderly woman in Chengalpet

Chennai: A week after a 75-year-old woman district was buried after relatives believed she had died in an accidental fall near Madurantakam in Chengalpet , police cracked the case as a murder-for-gain. They exhumed her body, and arrested a local political functionary accused of killing her for five sovereigns of gold jewellery.

The victim, Muthalu, wife of daily wage labourer Swaminathan, was found dead with severe head injuries at her residence in Keezhamur village on May 23. Initially, relatives believed that she had died after slipping and falling at home. However, suspicion arose after family members noticed that her gold chain and earrings were missing. Her sons, Veeramani and Umapathi, lodged a complaint.

Police said Muthalu was often seen sitting under a mango tree near her house along with several villagers, including Vasudevan, 45, a local TVK branch functionary, who had gone missing soon after the incident, raising suspicion.

Based on the complaint, police traced Vasudevan to Hosur and secured him for questioning. He confessed to snatching the elderly woman’s jewellery and pushing her to the ground. Muthalu reportedly suffered a fatal head injury in the fall. Police said Vasudevan also admitted to pouring water on the floor of the house in an attempt to make it appear that the victim had died after accidentally slipping and falling.

Muthalu’s body, which had been buried last week, was sent for postportem to ascertain the exact cause of death. Further investigation is under way.