2 Nepali nationals held for murdering Arya Vaidya Pharmacy founder R Kasturi’s daughter in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The city police have arrested two Nepali nationals in Bengaluru in as many days in connection with the murder of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP) founder P V Rama Varier's daughter R Kasturi, 82, who was found dead in her residence in a gated community near Nanjundapuram on Friday with her hands and legs tied and mouth gagged.

An investigation officer said they nabbed Rakesh Saud, 26, on Saturday and Dhilip, 26, on Sunday. The two were apprehended by a special police team stationed in Bengaluru. The city police had earlier formed eight special teams to apprehend those involved in the murderers.


"Preliminary investigation revealed that three men visited the victim's house around 12.15am on Friday and left around 12.40am. A gold chain that she was wearing, and some cash were missing from the house. Since Kasturi's domestic help Surja Rokey, 37, a Nepali, went missing after the murder, she is a suspect in the case," the officer said.

He said Surja had roped in her associates for committing the crime. "They went separate ways after committing the crime. Rakesh and Dhilip are suspected accomplices. While Rakesh denied having any knowledge about the valuables stolen from the victim's house and whereabouts of others, we have seized some cash from Dhilip. The process to remand the duo is under way."

Police, however, declined to comment on how much cash was seized from Dhilip.