VELLORE: A 20-year-old drunkard was on Friday arrested for allegedly murdering a 78-year-old woman, in Arakkonam on March 25, for money and jewels.
The deceased was identified as Gomathi, who was a widow living alone as her two sons Hari and Nandhakumar were working in Chennai.
The accused, identified as Sankaraman, a native of Bengaluru, had known the old woman since his sister and brother-in-law had rented her house, two years ago.
According to police, Sankaraman. a habitual drinker, was unemployed. He entered Gomathi’s house, in a drunken state, through the back door, after learning that she was living alone. Gomathi caught Sankaraman red-handed while he was robbing cash to the tune of `10,000, two rings and an earring from her locker. The ensuing war of words led the inebriated Sankaraman to strangle Gomathi to death after which he fled the spot with her jewels, money and her mobile phone. He checked the last dialled number and contacted Gomathi’s daughter-in-law in Chennai and reportedly told her that Gomathi was dead and hung up.
Nandakumar immediately contacted his mother’s neighbours, who said that his mother was fine till 10 pm. It was believed that the telephone call was hoax.
Arakkonam DSP Kannapan said, “On March 26th morning, neighbours found her body inside the house and alerted us. We arrested Sankaraman today after preliminary inquiries. There is no motive of revenge behind the murder.”
A case too was registered under section 302 and 308 of Indian Penal Code and further inquiries are on.