Couple held for murder of Kottayam planter and aide in Idukki estate

Rajakumari, Idukki: Rajakumari, Idukki: A couple has been detained in connection with the murder of a plantation owner and his worker at an estate in Naduppara, Chinnakkanal. It is suspected that the Pooppara native helped the main accused to commit the crime. The police have refused to disclose the identity of the suspects.

Jacob Varghese, aka Rajesh, the 40-year-old cardamom estate owner was shot dead, while his labourer Muthaiah, 55, was killed with a blow to his head.

Jacob belongs to the Kaithayil house in Manganam, Kottayam.

The bodies were two days old when found. Varghese has been shot in his chest. Muthaiah's head shows marks of weapon attack. The police suspect that Jacob's own gun was used for his presumed murder.

The police are seeking an estate supervisor from Kuruvilla City who had joined four days back. Local people had seen him driving away in the planter's SUV which was later found abandoned at Murikkumthotti.

The police said the supervisor has been facing several theft cases in Ernakulam and Palai.

Jacob was living alone in a house in the middle of the 40-acre estate. Muthaiah used to assist him during harvest.

Jacob, who also owns the Rhythms of My Mind resort at Naduppara, had been to his native place for Christmas and returned on the New Year day to the estate. He had called home on Friday.

The family lodged a man missing complaint on Saturday. Since they could not reach Muthaiah also on the phone, they travelled to the estate where they found the bodies.

Jacob, son of Dr K K Varghese and Dr Suseela Varghese, was abroad and had returned four years ago. He is survived by his wife Kesia and daughter Nadaniya.

Muthaiah's wife is Muthumari and children Pavithra and Pavan Kumar.