CHENNAI: Sivasubramanian (34), a scrap dealer and self-professed godman, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the murder of Aarthi (30), a mother of a 9-month-old baby and wife of a software professional in Perumbakkam. The murder was reported on Monday night.
Police said the scrap dealer from Kattangulathur, Kancheepuram district, was introduced to Aarthi at her apartment in Anthony Nagar, Perumbakkam, by her maid who claimed the godman could bring peace to her troubled married life.
Sivasubramanian kept in touch with Aarthi over mobile phone and had also visited her a couple of times. She worked in the HR department of a private firm.
On Monday, Aarthi scheduled Sivasubramanian to do a pooja. The self-professed godman suggested that she write a letter to Lord Shiva and remove her mangalasutra pendant from the chain and keep it with her all the time.
The scrap dealer had reportedly fed her some liquid spiked with poison after doing a pooja with her wedding chain. He followed Aarthi to the bathroom where he strangled her, took the jewellery and walked out, leaving the front door open.
When Aarthi’s husband Raju who worked at an IT firm in Taramani returned around 11 pm on Monday, he found her dead with marks of strangling on her neck and frothing from her mouth. Raju informed the police that her four sovereign gold chain was missing. Police who recovered the letter initially thought it was a suicide note and suspected that the husband had driven her to suicide. Later they arrested the scrap-dealer-turned-godman, who confessed committing the crime.