KANNUR: An Ernakulam native who married a photographer through impersonation, was arrested for stealing mother-in-law’s gold. The accused Sanitha Pradeep (38) of Ayyambilla Kuzhuppilly Venmalassery in Ernakulam was arrested by the Town CI Sreejith Koderi. The arrest was following a complaint lodged by her mother-in-law Vasantha (65) of Edakkenambethu in Melechovva.

Sanitha, who met Vasantha’s son Vivek six months ago during a bus journey, had told him that her name was Alaikha and that she was an orphan as her parents had died. The two soon fell in love and got married in a temple.

After the arrival of my daughter-in-law, money was often lost from the home, complained Vasantha. On February 10, I was unable to open the closet and informed Alaikha of the matter. She replied that it could be opened in two days if greased with oil. Out of suspicion, Vasantha opened the closet with the help of the neighbors and found discoloration in the gold necklace and rings kept inside. She then lodged a complaint with the police stating that she was suspicious of her daughter-in-law for the loss of her jewellery.

During the investigation, it was found that Alaikha had pawned the jewellery at a Muthoot Bank and had put fake ones in the closet. The police also found that the woman was married before marrying Vivek, and has not yet been divorced. It was following this that the Kannur Town CI Sreejith Koderi went ahead with the arrest.