Kerala has witnessed one more heinous crime, unravelled dramatically after few years. The frightening discovery of a double murder in Nedumkandam, Idukki, has sent repercussions across Kerala, unravelling a years-long family mystery. Based on an alert from a suspicious autorickshaw driver, police arrested 43-year-old Saji on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, for the brutal murder of his mother and brother. Symbol Premium Women's Fit & Flare Wrap Dress (Midi Length | Stylish | Desk-to-Dinner) (Available in Plus Sizes)
The departed have been identified as Marykkutty (70), who had recently suffered a stroke, and her elder son Reji (47). They had been missing since the first week of April. Police report says during a drunken state, Saji assailed and overpowered his brother Reji. He then attacked his mother, repeatedly hitting her head against a wall.
Saji kept the bodies inside the house overnight and then dragged them to a abandoned cow dung pit in the backyard. He covered the shallow grave with loose soil and tied the family’s dog nearby to prevent anyone from approaching the spot.
The crime came to light due to the keen observation of a local autorickshaw driver, the driver noticed Saji selling cardamom, a task usually handled by Reji. He realized Reji had not called him for two weeks, not even for the regular trips to take his mother to the hospital. The driver alerted Saji’s sister, Sini, who lives in Anakkara. When Sini questioned Saji, his contradictory claims (stating their mother was at a hospital in Tamil Nadu) prompted her to file a missing person report on Sunday.
The arrest has reopened a cold case from 2018
The father, Mathew, a Pentecostal pastor, vanished without a trace in May 2018. At the time, the investigation reached a dead end. However, following Saji's confession to the double murder, his sister and neighbours have raised strong suspicions that he may have killed his father as well. Police are now preparing to conduct a thorough search of the property to determine if Mathew’s remains are also buried there. Old ties, new crimes: Iltija Mufti under fire for amplifying separatist voices
Saji confessed that the murders were driven by a conflict over the division of the family's one-acre land, and Saji believed Reji was obstructing his marriage prospects and felt insulted by his brother's taunts regarding his parenthood and biological lineage. The ballots are cast, but the battle for Bengal’s identity is far from over
Saji was remanded to 14 days of custody on Wednesday and is currently held at the Peerumedu sub-jail. Further forensic evidence and DNA testing are being conducted to formally confirm the identities of the remains.