'Strange strategy to seduce and exploit women'; Sebastian denies wrongdoing, Investigation team in a fix

CHERTHALA: The investigation team is now in a quandary after suspect C.M. Sebastian (68) denied charges of murder. Sebastian said that he barely visits his family land in Pallipuram and blamed the crime to be the handiwork of some unknown criminal.

Sebastian, who was arrested in connection with the disappearance of Ettumanoor native Jaynamma, was taken into custody by the Crime Branch and questioned. The accused responded that he had no role in the disappearance of the women. DNA results are awaited to get more clarity into the case.

The questioning was conducted by the DySP and two CIs led by Kottayam Crime Branch SP Girish P. Sarathi. Sebastian's custody period will end on Thursday. The missing cases of women Bindu Padmanabhan and Aisha are also being investigated. There is also a mystery in Sebastian's financial dealings.

Bindu Padmanabhan (52), a native of Kadakkarappally, Cherthala, went missing in 2006. The investigation into this case came to a halt with the death of Sebastian's friend, auto driver Manoj. On June 27, 2018, four people, including Manoj, were summoned for questioning at the office of Alappuzha Narcotics Cell DySP A. Naseem, but their statements were not recorded. The next morning, the auto driver was found hanging inside his house.

It was Bindu Padmanabhan’s missing that first appeared before the Crime Branch, which raised suspicion on Sebastian’s role. His method is to seduce and exploit women who are at odds with their families. He is also an accused in the case of forging documents and extorting Bindu's property. It is reported that Rosamma, a native of Cherthala, who was Sebastian's confidant, connected Aisha (Hairumma - 62), who went missing in 2012, with Sebastian for a land deal. Aisha and Rosamma were neighbours. Sebastian was a regular visitor to Rosamma's house until May 2018. It has been revealed that Sebastian had a long-term acquaintance with Jaynamma (54), a native of Ettumanoor.