THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police said that Rajendran, the accused in the murder of plant nursery employee Vineetha, was a serial killer. Rajendran aka Rajesh (39), son of Daniel, a resident of Vellamandam Vembattur Rajeev Nagar in Thovala, Kanyakumari, was arrested the other day. There are four murder cases against him in Tamil Nadu, including the murder of a customs officer and his wife registered in the Aralvaimozhi station and two murder cases registered in the Kanyakumari police station.

Rajendran committed the murders between 2014 and 2019. Tamil Nadu police had included his name in the Goonda list. Although he was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police, he later escaped to Kerala after getting released on bail. Rajendran was arrested by the Peroorkada police from Kavalkinaru near Tirunelveli in the murder of Nedumangad native Vineetha. He committed the murder to steal Vineetha's gold necklace. Rajendran, who had financial issues, used to commit robberies and murders for money.

Auto driver's statement turns crucial

Rajendran had joined for work at a hotel in Peroorkada a month ago. He was wandering in Peroorkada and Tamil Nadu for nearly two days while the police were searching for the culprit. The CCTV footage obtained from Ulloor Junction and Peroorkada and the statement of the auto driver turned out to be crucial.

During the journey, Rajendran had asked the auto driver for water. After drinking water, he told the auto driver that he was working at a tea shop. Police found the auto driver after coming across a CCTV footage. The investigation team then extended the investigation to the tea shop workers in the city. Soon, they obtained crucial information about the culprit from the tea stall owner in Peroorkada. The owner told the police that Rajendran had recently sustained an injury on his hand and that he did not come to work since the injury. He also gave them Rajendran's mobile phone number.

Police thus reached Thovalai by following this mobile number and arrested Rajendran from his rented house. Commissioner G Sparjan Kumar said that the accused was being questioned in detail.

Vineetha's gold necklace discovered

Police have found Vineetha's gold necklace stolen by Rajendran. They found the necklace from a gold loan store at Anchugramam in Kanyakumari. The accused showed the shop when the police took him to Kanyakumari to collect evidence. Police will also collect evidence from the lodge where he stayed.