The charred body of a French tourist, who was murdered, was found in Thanjavur district on Sunday.
Soon after recovering the remains of the tourist, identified as Pierre Bernard Robert Rene, 68, The police arrested C. Thirumurugan, 29, a resident of Aavikottai in connection with the crime that came to light after an abandoned suitcase was recovered on Saturday.
Upon opening the suitcase, the police found the French passport of the victim, Pierre Bernard Robert Rene, 68, a diary and ATM cards.
As the diary contained the name of Thirumurugan, the police questioned him.
Police sources said Pierre had come from Chennai to Tiruchi on August 3 and stayed in a lodge from where he was picked up by Thirumurugan. The two went to Pattukottai and Mannargudi in a car from Tiruchi and allegedly consumed liquor.
A heated argument is said to have broken out between the two at the latter’s house at Aavikottai. Police suspect that the two were in a homosexual relationship.
A case has been registered against Thirumurugan.
Police said Pierre collapsed after being allegedly pushed by Thirumurugan and became unconscious. Fearing that Pierre had died, Thirumurugan put his body in a wash area in his house in Aavikottai and set it on fire after pouring petrol. The charred body was wrapped in three gunny bags and dumped on the roadside at Moothakurichi village near Madukkur.
Superintendent of Police, Thanjavur T. Senthil Kumar said the recovery of Pierre’s suitcase helped in cracking the crime. Thirumurugan reportedly revealed to the police the entire sequence of events. The body was sent to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for a post mortem.
The Madukkur police detained Thirumurugan and conducted an detailed inquiry with him till Sunday night. A case under IPC section 302 (murder) 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence) has been booked against him by the Madukkur police.