Death of 47-year-old turns out to be murder; three, including woman, arrested

MAVELIKKARA: The death of 47-year-old man, who was found dead in front of Union Bank near Michel Junction here, has been confirmed as a murder. Mavelikkara police took three people into custody, including a woman friend. The deceased has been identified as Rajesh (47), of Rajesh Bhavanam in Oripram in Chennithala. His friends Smitha K. Raj (37) from Kunnanthanam in Pathanamthitta, Biju (42), of Manathiyil Veettil in Cherukol in Karazhma and Sajevan (Sanu, 38), resident of Elavumthitta in Pathanamthitta, were arrested in connection with his death.

The police said that it is clear that Biju and Sanu beat up Rajesh on the instructions of the woman. Rajesh was found dead on Tuesday morning. Rajesh, Sanu, Biju and another person had been drinking together at various places since Monday morning. In the meantime, when he reached the bar in Mavelikkara, Rajesh was thrown out of the bar after getting drunk and causing trouble.

He then went to the verandah of Union Bank opposite the bar. At 12.15 in the night, Sanu and Biju arrived on a bike and after arguing with Rajesh, beat him up. Smitha worked as an employee when Rajesh was running a marriage bureau in Changanassery. Now this institution is run by Smitha. Rajesh is an employee here. But recently there was a dispute over Smitha's appointment of some other employees in the organization and Rajesh beat Smita. The police said that Rajesh was made to attack by his friends as a result of this enmity. Smitha's involvement in the case was brought to light after paying the bill for Biju and Sanu at a bar in Mavelikara through Google Pay.