The body of a woman, who was allegedly murdered over an illicit affair near Thoothukudi, was exhumed on Thursday, in the presence of Ottapidaram tahsildar and police officials.

According to police, the deceased has been identified as Brindha Devi, 32, from Sankaraperi Housing Board Colony in Thoothukudi. She had left home on Tuesday (May 12) and did not return.

Based on the complaint lodged by her father Chelladurai, SIPCOT police registered a missing case and began an investigation.

Police examined the CCTV footage in the area, which revealed Brindha Devi had entered the house of Marimuthu, 38, in the same area and did not come out thereafter. The police picked up Marimuthu and his wife Saravana Priya, 34, on Wednesday and began investigation.

Further inquiry revealed that Brindha Devi was allegedly involved in an illicit affair with Marimuthu. When Saravana Priya found them together at the house, a scuffle broke-out between two women. In a fit of rage, Saravana Priya smothered Brindha Devi with a pillow, resulting in her death.

As Saravana Priya told Marimuthu about it, they stuffed the body in a gunny bag on Tuesday (May 12) afternoon with the help of their relative N. Karthick, 36, and buried it at a farm in Ceylon Colony near Ottapidram.

The body was exhumed and a post mortem examination was conducted at the spot and handed over to the relatives.

The SIPCOT police altered the case from missing person case to murder case and have arrested Marimuthu, Saravana Priya and Karthick, who had been absconding, on Thursday.