'Asked her to end that friendship, but she did not pay heed, I don't regret killing my wife'; accused says he's sad about only one thing

KOLLAM: The statement of accused Padmarajan has come out in the incident where he killed his wife by setting her ablaze. He told the police that he feels no remorse or mental distress over killing his wife.

The accused said that he only feels sad thinking about his 14-year-old daughter. Anila had started a bakery with her friend Haneesh near a private hospital in Ashramam a month ago. It was the friendship between the two that led to the murder. Padmarajan said that although he had asked his wife to end her friendship with Haneesh, she did not pay heed to his advice.

Padmarajan said that Anila did not intervene when Haneesh beat him at the bakery the other day. This incident caused him severe mental distress.

The gruesome murder took place at Chammamukku in Kollam yesterday night. Yesterday, Padmarajan waited in his Omni van at Kadappakkada until Anila closed the shop and came out. He had expected Haneesh to be with her, but instead, she was with an employee at the shop.

Padmarajan followed Anila's car in his Omni van from Kadappakkada. When they reached Chammamukku, Padmarajan rammed his Omni van into Anila's car, forcing her to stop. He then got out of the van, smashed the glass on the driver's side of Anila's car, poured petrol inside, and set it on fire. Anila died on the spot.

Some youngsters present at the spot reported the incident to the police and the fire force. The Omni van belonged to Padmarajan. Both vehicles were completely gutted in the fire. The body has been shifted to the mortuary. Padmarajan later surrendered at the police station.