Mahalakshmi, a 19-year-old house help who had been working at the house of businessman Muruganandham and his wife, Sushmitha Priya, was found dead under mysterious circumstances. It was later revealed that Sushmitha, along with her 20-year-old niece, Mitrachini, had poured hot water on the help. This happened in their house in Adyar, Chennai. Muruganandham and his family live in Kancheepuram but also have a house Chennai.

According to The News Minute, Muruganandham approached the Adyar police when Mahalakshmi was found dead. While the case was initially registered under section 174 of CrPC (Suspicious death), the police changed it to section 302 of the IPC (murder) when the two women gave suspicious stories to corroborate their absence at the time of the murder.

The two women initially claimed that they had gone out shopping and on their return, they had found Mahalakshmi unconscious with burn marks in her body. Turns out, the CCTV camera showed that the women never left and moreover it was found turned off between 6PM and 10PM. Further, when asked why it was found turned off for four hours, they claimed that there was a power cut but turns out, they were lying there too.

Upon enquiry, Sushmitha, one of the accused, claimed that Mahalakshmi used to be physically violent towards her 9-year-old son and touched him inappropriately. The help’s body only showed scald marks, the police even suspecting her to be younger than 19-years-old but no proof to verify it.

The two accused are now lodged in Puzhal Jail.