Kalayil Mathew murder case: Exhumed bones confirmed as human

KOTTAYAM: In a major turning point in the investigation of the murder of Kalayil Mathew (44) of Thalayolaparambu eight years back, the forensic department of the Kottayam Medical College has confirmed the remains exhumed by the police to be human bones. They were found near a multi-storied building under which the body is suspected to have buried. The mortal remains, mainly consisting of parts of a human leg bone, were sent for a DNA test to the forensic lab in Thiruvananthapuram to confirm that it belonged to Mr Mathew.

Anish (38) of T.V. Puram, Vaikkom, had confessed to the police that he killed him over a financial dispute. Earlier, Mr Mathew’s daughter had also confirmed that a wrist watch found near the alleged crime scene belonged to her father. The investigation team had dug the floor of the multi-storied building based on the statements given by Anish that he had buried Mathew there. However, the team could not find any remnants.

Mr Mathew was a money-lender. Anish’s father Vasu revealed the story of murder to Mathew’s daughter Nicey based on a letter he received from a jail mate of the son, who was remanded in a fake currency case two months back. Police questioned Anish based on Nicey’s complaint that he had killed and buried Mathew near the printing press owned by him at the Hospital Junction. A new multi-storied building was constructed on the land after demolishing the old building in which Anish’s printing press functioned. Mathew went missing since November 25, 2008, and was believed that he absconded due to financial liabilities. His car was found abandoned near Pallikavala at Thalayolaparambu. Anish is suspected to have strangled Mathew to death using a plastic rope inside the building and buried there.