3 hours Ago
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have taken into custody a self-styled priest Devidasan (Pradeep) from Karikakkam in connection with the murder of the two-year-old girl in Balaramapuram. He is being grilled. Pradeep has an ashram in Karikakkam under the name ‘Mookambika Madom’.
Harikumar, the accused in the case, told police that he has connections with him. He was taken into custody after this. He was a teacher in a parallel college earlier.
His name was Pradeep Kumar. He later changed his name to S P Kumar and became a Kathaprasangam artist. He was into egg business and finally changed his name to Devidasan and became a sorcerer.
He is also known as Mutta Swamy. Reports said his wife’s house is in Balaramapuram. Sreethu, the toddler’s mother had earlier told police that she had given Rs 30 lakhs to Devidasan to buy land for her.
The police will examine her financial dealings with Devidasan. Sreethu and her brother Harikumar had recently tonsured their heads. It is believed that this was as per the advice of this priest.
Harikumar had earlier assisted a sorcerer in Alappuzha. The police will examine whether he has any connection with the murder. Devendu, daughter of Sreethu and Sreejith of Kottukalkonam, staying in a rented house, was murdered by her maternal uncle yesterday.
The toddler’s father and grandfather told police that they suspect the role of Sreethu in the murder. Sreejith said that his wife will not listen to anything he says. Many of her acts are mysterious and told police that her role should be investigated.
The accused told police that he threw his niece, who was sleeping into the well alive. However, SP K S Sudarshan had told media that Harikumar had said some things that could not be disclosed now. The investigation is ongoing.
The SP had clarified that Sreethu has not been acquitted and the WhatsApp messages between Harikumar and Sreethu will be investigated..
