Woman, partner held for husband’s murder in Salem

After executing the murder, the accused Nala had cooked up a story that her minor daughter studying in Class 11 had killed her father Padavetti (40) by hitting with a grinding stone, when he tried to sexually assault her on Wednesday night.

The police said Nala developed an affair with her relative Rangasamy (25). They decided to kill the man as they saw him a disturbance in continuing their relationship. The woman had also forced her daughter to owe responsibility for the murder assuming that she may get lesser punishment, being a minor.

Both the accused confessed to have killed him, while he was fast asleep on a cot under the influence of alcohol. They had smashed his head with a grinding stone resulting in his instant death.

The couple was living in separation for the last five years due to family issues. Meanwhile, the family members and relatives brokered peace between them and asked Padavetti to stay with his wife and children. Only two weeks ago, he came to stay with his wife in his in-laws house. 

The Jalakandapuram police, who took up investigations, too believed the story of the minor girl to be true. However, when relatives of the deceased sought a detailed probe and suspected the role of Nala, the police held further inquiries which led to the arrest of the accused persons.

The police arrested the woman and her paramour and further investigations are on.