KOZHIKODE — A chilling twist in the disappearance of Wayanad-based businessman Hemachandran (54) came to light after a crucial phone call from his daughter led investigators to suspect foul play. At a press briefing in Kozhikode on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun K Pavithran revealed that the case took a decisive turn when Hemachandran’s daughter noticed that the voice answering his phone didn’t sound like her father’s.
Hemachandran had vanished from Kozhikode on March 20, 2024. His wife, N M Subisha, filed a missing person complaint two weeks later after he stopped responding to calls. Asst. Commissioner A Umesh disclosed that the accused—Noushad, Jyothish, and Ajesh—continued to attend calls and mimic Hemachandran’s voice for 4–5 days after his murder to throw off suspicion.
To create the illusion that Hemachandran was still alive, one accused even travelled to Gundlupet and Mysuru, carrying his phone. The police cross-verified this with call records and tower locations, which eventually aligned with the suspects’ statements.
Based on their confession, police located the burial site in Cherambadi, Tamil Nadu, and with help from Nilgiri authorities, exhumed the body on Saturday. The prime suspect, Noushad, who allegedly killed Hemachandran over unpaid debts, fled to Saudi Arabia. The DCP stated that police allowed his departure to avoid raising suspicion until the body was recovered, but efforts are now underway to bring him back.
Investigators have also identified more individuals linked to the crime. One woman from Kannur allegedly helped lure Hemachandran to the Kozhikode Medical College area, while another woman from Gundlupet, also owed money by the victim, was aware of the kidnapping.
The police confirmed Hemachandran was abducted from his rented house in Mayanad and killed the next day in Wayanad. The initial autopsy confirms homicide, and the body, found partially intact due to the cool climate in the Cherambadi forest, is now at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. DNA testing will confirm identity before handing over the remains to the family.