The police have failed to locate the remains of Mathew, a resident of Pachady near Nedumkandam, who has been missing since May 2018. An extensive search was conducted on the family’s property following the arrest of 43-year-old Saji, the prime suspect in the double murder of his mother and brother.

Idukki District Police Chief K.M. Sabu Mathew said that while investigators executed a detailed excavation of the land, the search was inconclusive. “We could not find human remains. We recovered only animal bones and a piece of wood from the pit. The probe is ongoing. We do not yet have a clear picture of how the man went missing,” said Mr. Mathew.

The investigation intensified after police recently recovered the decomposed remains of Marykkutty (70) and her son Reji (47) from the premises of their home. Saji was subsequently arrested in connection with the double murder. During the interrogation, family members alerted authorities that Marykkutty’s husband, Mathew, had been missing since May 2018. They urged police to investigate Saji’s potential involvement in his father’s disappearance. 

In addition to the murder charges, police have received allegations that the accused raped two close female relatives. One of the women lost a child during delivery, at which time a DNA test was conducted. Investigators have now collected a DNA sample from Saji to determine his involvement in those cases.

Following the expiry of his initial custody period, Saji was produced before the Nedumkandam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and remanded. The police intend to file a new custody application next week to continue their interrogation.