Pathanamthitta: In a bizarre attempt to win the sympathy of his lover's family by posing as her rescuer, a young man staged a road accident — but was arrested along with his accomplice, who carried out the crash. The plot unravelled after police traced the car involved in the incident, which had fled the scene without stopping. Both men have now been booked for attempted murder.

The first accused is Ranjith Rajan (24), a native of Mammoodu near Konni, and the second accused is Ajas (19) from Payyanamon, also in Konni.

The incident occurred on the evening of December 23, when the woman in a relationship with Ranjith was riding a scooter. Ajas followed her in a car and rammed into the scooter at Vazhamuttom East near Pathanamthitta, knocking her down before fleeing the spot. Ranjith arrived shortly afterwards in another car; he took charge of the rescue and rushed the injured woman to a hospital. He also misled local residents by introducing himself as her husband.

Police grew suspicious of Ranjith’s unusually timely arrival. An examination of the phone records linked to the car driver provided crucial leads, eventually exposing the conspiracy.

“The accused believed they could manipulate emotions by creating fear and gratitude,” a police officer said. “But their plan caused serious harm and could have ended in tragedy.”

The woman suffered a dislocated right wrist and a fractured finger in the accident.

Sub-Inspector Shiju P. Sam of the Pathanamthitta police station is leading the investigation. The accused were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.