Slow poisoning suspected in woman, hubby’s death, sister held

After the viscera test results of the deceased - Meenakshi and Dharmalingam of Chitrakulam – revealed poisoning, police intensified the investigation leading to the arrest of Meenakshi’s sister Mythili (35) and her lover Balamurugan (28).

Police said that the deceased couple, who was involved in a floral business, had hired Mythili. But though she was married and had a daughter, she and her co-worker Balamurugan got involved with each other. This was objected to by the couple. Angered by this and in a bid to garner the couple’s wealth, the couple conspired to slow poison them to death. The couple was childless.

Balamurugan, who purchased the poison handed it over to Mythili, who mixed it in Dharmalingam’s liquor and in her sister’s food. The process of mixing the poison had commenced in May 2017 and the couple took ill in January this year. Dharmalingam died on January 9 and his wife on January 13.

Based on a complaint from Dharmalingam’s brother who was suspicious of the couple’s death, police during investigation found that a large amount of cash from the couple’s account had been withdrawn during their hospitalisation by Mythili.

With the viscera samples revealing poisoning, police interrogated Mythili who confessed to the crime. The duo was arrested on Friday night and remanded in judicial custody.