KOCHI: The sale of gold in Udupi, Karnataka, by Sharmila, a native of Mangalore, proved to be the key clue that helped police solve the mystery of the murder and burial of 73-year-old Subhadra, who had gone missing from Kadavanthra in Ernakulam. Subhadra’s son, Radhakrishnan, reported her missing to the Kadavanthra police on the 7th of last month. The investigation, led by Kadavanthra CI, initially suspected that Subhadra, who had been lending money at interest in the Kadavanthra and Karithala areas, might have been targeted for her gold and cash.
The breakthrough came when the police focused on Subhadra’s companions and frequented places. CCTV footage from near her home showed a woman, Sharmila, who had been close to Subhadra for years. Using mobile tower data, the police tracked Sharmila to Udupi, where she had sold gold and collected money. When questioned, Sharmila denied being in Udupi or selling any gold. Suspicion deepened when she and her husband, Nithin Mathew, switched off their phones and disappeared.
Meanwhile, another lead from Subhadra’s phone data indicated her last known location was Kalavoor in Alappuzha. Police followed this lead and arrived at a rented house where Sharmila and Nithin had been staying, but the couple was nowhere to be found. The case was then handed over to the Mannanchery police, which oversees the Kalavoor area.
The investigation revealed that Subhadra had evicted Sharmila and Nithin from her home in Kalavoor three years ago due to frequent quarrels. They had since moved to a nearby rented house. Neighbors provided critical information that the couple had recently dug a pit near their rented house. A worker who assisted Nithin admitted to digging a five-foot-deep pit, which was mysteriously covered the next day.
The body of Subhadra, identified by her son, was later found buried near a house close to the Korthussery temple in Mararikulam, confirming the police’s suspicions.
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