Kochi: The police team investigating the murder of Shanthamma, a 61-year-old woman from Vengoor in Perumbavur, has intensified the hunt for the prime suspect, Rajesh, a native of Mannamkavala in Adimali. The investigation, which began after Shanthamma's decomposed body was found in a waste pit at a house in Oonnukal, has revealed that the suspect stole the victim's gold ornaments to pay off his debts.

Police believe Rajesh stole around nine sovereigns of gold from her before disposing of her body in the pit. Investigators have since learned that he sold the stolen jewellery and used the proceeds to settle some of his financial obligations over the last few days. Police sources indicate they have gathered clues on the location where the gold was sold.

The case is being investigated by a special team led by Muvattupuzha DySP and Perumbavur ASP. According to the police, Rajesh was allegedly having an affair with the victim for a long time. They have identified Rajesh as the primary suspect based on phone records and tower locations. Shanthamma had told her family she was going to a hospital on August 17 and is believed to have been picked up by Rajesh, with whom she allegedly had a long-term relationship. CCTV footage from both Shanthamma's neighbourhood in Vengoor and the house where her body was found captured visuals of Rajesh’s car.

“From Rajesh’s family’s statement, we understood that he had worked in hotels in various places, including Vengoor. We suspect that’s how he met the victim. Their phone records hinted that they had been in contact for a long time. We found that Rajesh cleared some of his debts using the money from selling the victim’s gold. We are trying to recover the gold and trace him down,” police sources said.

The house from where Shanthamma’s body was recovered belongs to a Christian priest in Kothamangalam. However, he visits there occasionally. The incident came into light on Wednesday when the priest and his assistants came to the house and noticed the kitchen’s exit door was broken, which appeared to be a theft attempt. The Oonnukal police registered a case based on his complaint.

However, when the priest returned to the house on Friday, he noticed a foul smell and blood stains in the premises, prompting him to call the police again. The police later found the body in the waste-dumping pit. Based on a missing case registered in the Kuruppampady police station, the police identified Shanthamma as the victim after her son recognised the surgery scar on her body.

According to the Muvattupuzha DySP Baiju PM, Rajesh had previously worked at a hotel near the priest's house and was familiar with the property. "He might have noticed the owner hardly visits the house and was aware of the waste pit, making it easy for him to dump the body. However, it is yet to be clear whether the murder was committed there or somewhere else," the officer said.