A 43-year-old man was arrested along with his first wife and brother-in-law for murdering his second wife and her mother, on Wednesday.
Incidentally, the first and second wives were siblings.
According to police, Sattamani, his first wife Vijaya (38) and her brother Arokiyasamy murdered Sattamani’s second wife Maniammal (35) and her mother Lakshmi after argument over share in a property at Oonathur.
It is said that Maniammal separated from Sattamani five years ago and settled in Chennai with her son Navaneethan (15).
Vijaya and Maniammal had a share in the family’s five-acre land in Oonathur. Lakshmi’s two sons - Arokiyasamy and Pushparaj - too have a share in the property and are living in houses built on the same land.
The brothers, along with Vijaya, had planned to settle the dispute and sent a word to Maniammal. On Sunday, Maniammal arrived at Oonathur leaving her son Navaneethan in Chennai.
Vijaya and the brothers offered `50,000 towards her share, but Maniammal was not willing to settle for anything less than `5 lakh.
An argument ensued and Sattamani, Arokiyasamy and Vijaya together attacked Maniammal with a spade, killing her on the spot. Fearing that Lakshmi would inform the police, the trio killed her as well and buried the bodies in their land.
Navaneethan, awaiting his mother’s return, called up his uncles, but was told that she never came to Oonathur. However, the boy took a bus and reached Oonathur on Wednesday.
Not convinced by the replies his uncles and aunt gave, he filed a police complaint stating that his mother and grandmother had gone missing and that he suspected foul play.
Following this, a police team led by inspector Baskar Babu inquired Arokiyasamy, Pushparaj, Sattamani and Vijaya. As the four gave contradictory answers, the police grilled them further, following which Pushparaj’s wife spilt the beans.
The police took Sattamani, Arokiyasamy and Vijaya into custody for further interrogation. The bodies of the two women will be exhumed on Thursday, said the police.