Rape suspect kills mother, absconds with jewellery, cash

CHENNAI: S Daswant (22), a suspect in the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl at Mugalivakkam allegedly killed his mother after she refused to give him money, at their residence at Kundrathur on Saturday.

According to police, the youth who was out on bail, allegedly killed his mother, Sarala, with an iron rod and escaped with the jewellery she was wearing and cash kept at their residence.

“After Daswant was released on bail, he would often demand money from his parents. Similarly, on Saturday, when he was alone with his mother at home, he had demanded money which led to a fight between the duo. In a fit of rage, he killed his mother and escaped with around 25 sovereigns of gold jewels,” said police sources.

The sources said the incident was reported around 11 am after which he had allegedly locked the door from outside and escaped. “Meanwhile, his father Sekar called him over phone around 2 pm, when he replied he was outside. Later, Sekar tried to contact Sarala over phone when it went unanswered. By then, Daswant’s phone also was switched off. Suspecting something wrong, Sekar asked a relative to check on his wife who found her dead in the house,” sources said.

Daswant’s family had shifted to Sambandam Nagar at Kundrathur from their earlier house at Porur after the rape and murder of the girl in February and public outrage that followed.

Police arrested Daswant, who had been staying in the same apartment where the girl was staying, but was subsequently released after a court granted bail in September and the Madras High Court quashed his detention under Goondas Act.

The charge sheet was filed in July. The bail was also met with public outrage from various quarters. “After he was released on bail, he seems to have been suffering from depression,” police said.

Daswant’s father has filed a complaint with Kundrathur police, who have formed a team to nab the suspect.