Vilappilsala police on Monday arrested Ratheesh Kumar (42) for allegedly killing his wife following a verbal dispute at their home in Peyad, Kerala, on Sunday night. The victim has been identified as Vidya Chandran (26), a resident of Aruvippuram near Peyad.
According to police reports, Vidya was found dead inside the house. Ratheesh reportedly informed his friends about her death. One friend, suspecting foul play, rushed to the residence and alerted authorities. Police reached the scene promptly and took Ratheesh into custody. He has been remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the murder stemmed from a verbal altercation that escalated into physical violence. Officials noted that Ratheesh and Vidya, for whom this was a second marriage, had a history of frequent disputes, often linked to Ratheesh’s alcohol consumption.
Police further revealed that Vidya had left the house earlier due to disagreements and had returned only two days prior to the incident. Ratheesh reportedly had previous cases of assault registered against him, raising concerns about a pattern of violent behavior.
The victim’s body has been sent for autopsy, and the investigation is ongoing.