The police have arrested five persons on the charge of murdering a 47-year-old businessman in Coimbatore.
T. Thiyagarajan, 69, of Gandhi Maa Nagar in Coimbatore, his wife Gomathi, 52, his stepdaughter S. Neela, 33, a henchman Puthiyavan alias Kutti Thangam from Tirunelveli and his relative P. Swathi, 26, were arrested for the murder of D. Sigamani, 47, a native of Puliyanthoppu in Thanjavur, who had been running a travels firm in Dubai.
The police said that Sigamani’s wife lodged a complaint at the Peelamedu station stating that her husband arrived in Coimbatore from Abu Dhabi on April 22 and went missing later.
According to the police, Thiyagarajan’s other stepdaughter Sharadha Shanmugan, who has been working in Dubai, and Sigamani were known to each other in Dubai and had suspected financial dealings. Sigamani was in contact with Sharadha till April 24 evening. Meanwhile, Sharadha was seen in Dubai on April 25, prompting Sigamani’s family members to suspect her role in his disappearance.
As Sharadha’s mobile was switched off, the police reached out to her stepfather Thiyagarajan. The police found that he is an accused in the murder of Sharadha’s husband Gunavel in 2018 and was out on bail.
When questioned, Thiyagarajan confessed to have murdered Sigamani on April 22 with the help of others. Sharadha had complained to him that Sigamani harassed her over money dispute. Investigators found that Sharadha reached Coimbatore from Dubai on April 22 and she, along with Thiyagarajan, welcomed Sigamani at Coimbatore airport and took him to Gandhi Maa Nagar, said the police.
The police said that Thiyagarajan, Sharadha, Gomathi, Neela, Puthiyavan and Swathi plotted a conspiracy to murder Sigamani. They gave him sedatives in liquor and fried chicken on the night of April 24 and murdered him. The body was taken in a car to Karur the next day and dumped in an isolated place within the limits of K Paramathi police station.
The police arrested Thiyagarajan on Thursday and four others on Friday. A special team is on the lookout for Sharadha.
Published – May 03, 2025 09:35 am IST
