7 arrested for murder of jewellery store staffer

Trichy: The body of Martin Jayaraj, 42, the murdered employee of a jewellery shop, was exhumed in Mannachanallur in Trichy on Tuesday based on information from the key accused in the case.

The Woraiyur police and the revenue officials retrieved the body of Jayaraj of Puthur following which an autopsy was conducted and handed over to his family.

Police also arrested the prime accused S Prasanth, 26, of Thiruvanaikovil, his accomplices P Prasanth, 26, of Keezhakurichi, S Selva alias Senthilkumar, 19, G Praveen, 20, M Arivalagan, 20, M Aravind, 23, and V Vikaram, 21, of Azhagiya Manavalam.

Jayaraj, employee of a jewellery shop on Karur bypass road in Trichy, had gone missing while returning to Trichy from Chennai with 1.5kg of gold ornaments purchased as assigned by the owner of the shop on Saturday. Investigation brought to light that it was a case of murder for gain.

The prime accused Prasanth had taken Jayaraj to Chennai by his car and was returning by the same taxi. Earlier, Prasanth had informed his accomplices to join him between Thozhdhur and Veppur. As conspired, his accomplices joined him and they murdered Jayaraj and buried his body at Azhagiya Manavalam village before escaping with the jewellery.

During inquiry, Prasanth confessed to have murdered Jayaraj to avenge a personal enmity and also to clear his debts using the jewellery. Police have recovered the jewellery.

All the accused were remanded in judicial custody.