KOLLAM: Satheesh Sankar, 40, husband of Athulya, a Chavara native who was found hanging at her apartment in Sharjah in July, was arrested by Thekkumbhagam police on Sunday.
The accused, a native of Sasthamcotta, was detained by immigration officials at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on his arrival from Sharjah and handed over to Valiyathura police. He was later transferred to Thekkumbhagam police, where the case against him was registered.
Following interrogation, Satheesh was released on bail, as the Kollam Sessions Court had granted him anticipatory bail on Friday. The investigation is being led by Karunagappally ASP Anjali Bhavana.
A forensic examination in Sharjah had earlier found no abnormality in Athulya’s death. The results of a re-postmortem conducted after the body was brought to Kerala are awaited.
Earlier, Satheesh was booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 85 (abetment of suicide of a woman), Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt using a dangerous weapon), Section 118(1) (wrongful restraint or confinement), and Section 103(1) (cruelty by husband or relatives). He also faces charges under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Earlier, Athulya’s mother Thula Sibhai had lodged a complaint alleging that her daughter was subjected to physical and mental torture, particularly when Satheesh was under the influence of alcohol.