The Hindu : Kerala News : Search for murder suspect

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Search for murder suspect

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, SEPT. 14. Parents of Sajni (26), a senior officer with ICICI Bank, Ahmedabad, found murdered in her residence on February 14, 2003, have declared a reward of Rs. one lakh for those who could provide any clue leading to the arrest of the suspect.

The suspect, Tarunkumar Jinaraj, was married to Sajni for three months and has been absconding since the murder. Sajni was found strangled to death in her three-bed room apartment and the police dog, after taking the scent from the scene of the crime, went to Tarunkumar. He was working as sports lecturer in JG College, Ahmedabad. However, the suspect gave the police a slip and went missing a couple of days later.

Tarunkumar's family was from Kadakkavoor in Thiruvananthapuram district and Sajni's family hailed from Pottor in Thrissur district. While Sajni's family has been living in Ahmedabad for the last four decades, Tarunkumar's parents were living in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh before moving to Ahmedabad.

Relatives questioned

A team of the Gujarat police visited Thiruvananthapuram in June last year, but could not get any leads. Relatives of Tarunkumar's family were questioned and his photographs were circulated among rural police stations.

Announcing the reward at the Press Club here today, the victim's brother-in-law, P.K. Shashidharan, said the suspect's alleged relation with another girl was the possible motive behind the murder.

Before absconding, Tarunkumar had withdrawn Rs.11,000 from Sajni's savings bank account, using her ATM card. He had also reportedly made a call to his girlfriend after the murder and said that he had removed the obstacle from their way, Mr. Shashidharan said.

Tarunkumar's parents and brother were arrested by the Gujarat police and subjected to polygraph test. Though they failed to prove that they were ignorant about Tarunkumar's whereabouts, they were released on bail, he said.

Reports that appeared in the local media, copies of which Mr. Shashidharan distributed at the press meet, showed that the Gujarat police had put up posters at railway stations in Gujarat, announcing suitable rewards for those who could provide information about Tarunkumar.

Those who come across any information leading to the whereabouts of the suspect are expect to contact the nearest police station or A.K. Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ahmedabad, on phone number 098250 49166 or Manoj Agarwal, Superintendent of Police, Ahmedabad Rural on phone number 098250 49304.

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