The death of a nine-year-old girl at Karai village in the district under suspicious circumstances on Sunday took a turn on Monday with the case turning out to be a murder which came to light after detailed investigation.

Padalur police, who initially booked a case under section 194 of the BNSS, altered it as a case of murder and arrested the victim’s mother, G. Nishanthini, 26, on charges of committing the crime.  The police have held Manikandan of the same village with whom Nishanthini is alleged to have had a relationship.

The minor girl identified as G. Keerthisha, a class V student, was found lying in an unconscious state in her house on Sunday. The girl was taken to the primary health centre at Karai village where the doctor declared her as dead.

Acting on a complaint from the girl’s father C. Gunasekaran, 37, the Padalur Police initially registered a case under section 194 of the BNSS and launched a probe. The suspicion was on Nishanthini after some marks were reportedly found on the victim’s neck. The body was sent for a post mortem to the Perambalur Government Hospital.

Police sources said Gunasekaran married Nishanthini 11 years ago and Keerthisha was born to them. Owing to family disputes, the couple were living separately for the past four years. Gunasekaran had alleged in the complaint that Nishanthani had a relationship with Manikandan of the same village.

Acting on Gunasekaran’s complaint, the police launched an investigation and conducted inquiries with Nishanthini and the crime came to light. It is alleged that the woman resorted to the extreme step as she felt her daughter to be a obstacle to her relationship with Manikandan.