Nedumkandam double murder: Accused kept bodies inside bathroom for two days

Idukki: Nedumkandam double murder case accused Saji, 43, who was arrested for murdering his mother Marykutty, 70, and elder brother Reji, 48, kept the bodies wrapped in a net inside the bathroom for two days, police said. He later buried them in an old manure pit after removing soil, camouflaging the site to resemble normal agricultural activity. Lime was spread overthe bodies to speed up decomposition and avoid foul smell, police said. According to police, Saji cited family disputes as the motive for the murders. He alleged that his marriage was being deliberately delayed by his family and he faced discrimination at home. Statements made by his brother questioning his paternity and his mother's insistence that the elder son should marry first reportedly triggered the crime. The accused told police that following a quarrel in the first week of April he strangled his mother and assaulted his brother to death. After the murders, he went on to distribute wedding invitations in the locality, initially fixing the date as April 23 and later changing it to 30th. The crime came to light after his sister filed a missing complaint, following which police suspicion turned towards Saji. He fled on seeing police but was later caught by locals on Tuesday. The decomposed bodies were recovered from the house compound on Monday. A police team led by district police chief Sabu Mathew inspected the scene and collected evidence. Officials said further interrogation is under way to establish the complete sequence of events.