Minor among 3 held for missing friend’s murder

The deceased, R Devakumar (23) of Thoraipakkam, was an auto driver who also doubled up as a food delivery person. As he did not return after going out with his friend Ajith on February 15, his wife Panchali had lodged a complaint at the Kannagi Nagar station.

With Ajith remaining absconding, the police picked up Devakumar’s friend T Govardhan (20), who runs a two-wheeler mechanic shop at Muthamizh Nagar in Karapakkam. Interrogation revealed that Govardhan, Ajith and a few other friends had murdered Devakumar and abandoned his body near a stream at Karapakkam.

Following this, the body was traced and retrieved, and was sent for post-mortem examination. Officials said Govardhan suspected Devakumar of stealing a mobile phone and cash from his shop. “On February 15 night, Govardhan asked Ajith to bring Devakumar and an argument erupted between them while enquiring about the missing valuables. This ended in Devakumar being bludgeoned to death. Devakumar’s body was taken on Govardhan’s vehicle and abandoned near Thangavelu Engineering College,” said an official.

Govardhan and K Thavan (19) of Semmanchery were remanded in judicial custody, while another 17-year-old suspect was sent to observation home. A hunt has been launched for Ajith. As the murder happened in the jurisdiction of Kannagi Nagar police station, they are likely to take the accused into custody for interrogation.