Kalpetta: A resort owner in Wayanad was brutally stabbed and hacked to death by a 60-year-old man for exploiting his wife after blackmailing her with nude photos.

Raju, a former general manager of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, has been charged with murdering Vincent Samuel, alias Nebu, 52.

The accused is a resident of Meenangadi. His accomplice, Anil, sustained serious injuries on his arm during the crime and has been admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

According to the police, Nebu had allegedly blackmailed the assailant's wife with nude photos, exploited her and taken her around to many places.

Nebu, a resident of Sultan Bathery, owns the Whispering Woods resort at Maniaynkott, near Kalpetta. He was murdered at the resort on Thursday night. He was stabbed and hacked 32 times.

Nebu, who is survived by his wife Leelamma and children Liya and Silna, owns resorts in Bathery and Malavayal. He also has rented resorts and tourist homes in several other places. Actively involved in Wayanad tourism, Nebu was district secretary of the tourism association.

Fatal day

The police say Nebu and Raju had reached Whispering Woods around 7.30 pm. The assailants entered the resort by 11.30 pm, climbing over the locked gate. They found Nebu and the woman having dinner on the verandah of a cottage. There was nobody else at the resort.

Anil pinned down Nebu on the chair, and Raju stabbed and hacked him repeatedly. Nebu, who bled profusely, died on the spot.

Raju then returned with his wife and Anil, and surrendered at the Meenangadi police station in the morning. The police said the accused will be taken to the resort for evidence-gathering.

The resort supervisor who arrived by 7.30 in the morning found Nebu dead. The body was found in a seated position on a chair.

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