Kerala man arrested for killing mother and brother, police reopen father’s 2018 disappearance case

Police in Kerala’s Idukki district have arrested a 43-year-old man, Saji, for murdering his mother and elder brother and burying their bodies in a cow dung pit behind their home in Pachady village.

The case came to light after an autorickshaw driver noticed that Reji, 54, who usually handled errands for the family, had not been seen for weeks. He also observed Saji carrying cardamom for sale, a task normally done by Reji, and alerted relatives.

Police searched the Ponnoottil family property on Monday and recovered the decomposed bodies of Reji and their mother, Mary, 71, from a shallow pit in the backyard. Saji was arrested on Tuesday.

Investigators are now also probing whether Saji had any role in the disappearance of his father, Mathew, a Pentecostal pastor who went missing in 2018.

According to Idukki Superintendent of Police Sabu Mathew, disputes over family property and personal tensions between the brothers may have led to the crime. Police said Saji believed Reji was obstructing his plans to marry and often mocked him over issues related to parenthood.

Police said that the murders took place in the first week of April. Saji assaulted and smothered Reji during a drunken argument before attacking his mother, who had recently suffered a stroke. The bodies were kept inside the house overnight and buried the next day.

Investigators said Saji tied the family’s aggressive dog near the burial spot to keep people away.

Saji’s sister, Sini, said he had threatened her last year when she questioned his behaviour towards their mother. She became suspicious after Saji gave inconsistent answers about Mary’s whereabouts and filed a complaint with the police on Sunday.

After the bodies were recovered, Saji fled and hid in a nearby cardamom plantation before confessing on Tuesday.