K Sasikala of Nainarkuppam village in Kancheepuram, who worked in a garment company in Guduvanchery, had committed suicide on June 24. Though the family tried to hide the death by burying the body, Cheyyur police retrieved it and arranged for autopsy.

Sources said Sakikala was in a relationship with Purushothaman (29), her relative. Later, due to her parents’ objection, Sasikala agreed to marry according to their wish. After that Purushothaman and his brother, Deivendran threatened and started blackmailing her with her photos.

Sources said on the day Sasikala committed suicide both of them had visited Sasikala at her home. After the incident, her brother Arun Babu raised a suspicion that Purushothaman might have murdered her and staged it as a suicide. He claimed that no one in the family knew that the duo was threatening Sasikala and it was revealed by her friends only during the funeral. Cheiyur police were searching for the brothers when Purushothaman surrendered in Cheiyur station a few days ago and Deivendran was arrested in Vyasarpadi on Monday.

Both were functionaries of the DMK but were suspended by the party after the incident.