The incident was initially reported by the parents as an accidental death due to a cupboard falling on Vidhya, but police investigation revealed the tragic truth behind her demise.
Published Apr 02, 2025 | 11:55 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 02, 2025 | 11:55 AM
Accused Saravanan. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Vidhya, a 22-year-old college student, was killed by her brother, Saravanan, after she refused to end her relationship with Venmani. Initially reported as an accidental death, a post-mortem revealed severe head injuries, leading to the discovery of foul play. Saravanan confessed to the crime, and both he and their parents are under investigation for covering it up.
A shocking case of murder has emerged from Paruvai near Palladam in the Tirupur district, where a 22-year-old college student, Vidhya, was allegedly killed by her brother for refusing to end her romantic relationship.
The incident was initially reported by the parents as an accidental death due to a cupboard falling on her, but police investigation revealed the tragic truth behind her demise. On 30 March, following her death, her family quickly buried her body without conducting a post-mortem examination.
Vidhya, a student at Coimbatore Government College, lived with her parents, Dhandapani and Thangamani, along with her brother, Saravanan. She was in a relationship with Venmani, her college-mate from Vijayapuram in Tirupur. When he approached her family with a marriage proposal, they rejected it outright.
Vidhya’s family belongs to the Navithar Converted Christian community, while Venmani hails from the Kulalar community. However, the police have stated that the motive behind the crime was not related to caste differences or honor killing.
With locals becoming suspicious of the sudden burial, Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Poongodi filed a complaint at the Kamanayakkanpalayam police station, raising concerns about the circumstances of Vidhya’s death. Acting on this, police registered a case and decided to exhume her body for further investigation.
Following the exhumation, a forensic team from Tirupur Government Medical College Hospital conducted an autopsy under the supervision of the Palladam Revenue Officer. The examination revealed severe head injuries, contradicting the family’s claim of an accidental death.
Forensic experts also investigated the house where the alleged accident took place. Bloodstains and other evidence raised further doubts about the family’s version of events.
As police intensified their questioning, Vidhya’s brother, Saravanan, finally confessed to the crime. He admitted that he had repeatedly urged his sister to end her relationship with Venmani. When she refused, he lost his temper and struck her on the head with an iron rod, killing her.
To cover up the crime, the family claimed it was an accident and hurriedly buried her body. However, their attempt to conceal the truth failed due to the intervention of local authorities.
Following Saravanan’s confession, police arrested him for murder. Vidhya’s parents, Dhandapani and Thangamani, are also under investigation for their role in covering up the crime.
Tirupur District Superintendent of Police Girish Kumar Yadav told reporters that investigations confirmed Saravanan had been pressuring Vidhya to focus on her studies. Due to their ongoing conflict, Vidhya had not spoken to him for the past two months.
Police have also confirmed that their parents were not at home during the murder. Further investigations into the case are still underway.
Police have also questioned Venmani, Vidhya’s partner, to gather additional details. Investigators are trying to determine if other family members were involved in the crime or its cover-up.
While forensic reports will provide the final confirmation, initial findings strongly suggest that Vidhya’s death was not an accident but a deliberate act of violence carried out due to opposition to her romantic relationship.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
