• By Aditya Jha
  • Sun, 05 Jan 2025 09:20 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Kerala News: After a long 18 years, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully arrested two former Army officials for allegedly murdering a 24-year-old woman and her newborn twin daughters in 2006 in Kochi city of Kerala.

During the probe into the case, the suspects were recognised as Divil Kumar from the Anchal region and Rajesh from the Kannur region of the state. The CBI arrested both of the suspects from Puducherry after a chase of 18 years. The prosecutor informed that the agency produced both before a court in Kochi on Saturday and they were remanded in judicial custody for the murder of the woman and her twin daughters.

ALSO READ: Weather Update: Dense Fog Grips Delhi, Uttar Pradesh; Snowfall In Parts Of Himachal Pradesh, J-K

Divil Kumar was in a relationship with the deceased woman Ranjini for several months. However, things started getting worse between them after Ranjini asked him to take the responsibility of her twin daughters, The Hindu reported. However, Ranjini approached the Women's Commission when Divil denied her proposal. The Women Commission did an inquiry into the case and later directed a DNA test. However, the directions from the Commission frustrated Kumar, and he took a leave from the Army. He later sought help from Rajesh, who was his companion in the same regiment.

ALSO READ: Delhi Weather: Flight And Train Operations Disrupted As National Capital Battles Severe Cold, Dense Fog; IMD Issues Yellow Alert

Rajesh started visiting their home, and he also promised Ranjini that he would convince Kumar to marry her. However, he was plotting her murder in that time period, the chargesheet filed by the CBI in 2013 stated. They later murdered Ranjini and her twin daughters when her mother had gone out. They left Kerala after the murder and shifted to Puducherry to start a business under new names. Divil Kumar changed his name and identity to Vishnu, while Rajesh also changed his name to Praveen Kumar.

The CBI took charge of the case in 2010 on the directions of the Kerala High Court. However, the agency could not arrest them even after issuing a lookout notice for them. The agency recently received a tip-off that the suspects are residing in Puducherry after the state police recreated AI images of the suspects.