Sajeev Krishnan, a 22-year-old native of Malappuram district in Kerala who stayed with Arshad and three others, was found dead on Tuesday, August 16 at a flat in Kakkanad of Ernakulam district. Police said there are around 20 injuries on Sajeev’s body that were found during postmortem. Sajeev’s body was found inside a duct in the apartment by two of his other flatmates, who returned on Tuesday after a tour. Sajeev was working in a hotel near Kakkanad.
Arshad, who is suspected to be the prime accused in the murder, was taken into police custody on Wednesday, from Manjeshwar of Kasaragod district. Arshad went absconding after Sajeev’s death. He was taken into custody while he was trying to board a train from Manjeshwar as he attempted to leave the state. According to the police, Sajeev died between August 14 and August 16.
CH Nagaraju, city police commissioner, Ernakulam told media, “Our team will soon reach Kasaragod to get the accused. As far as the motive of the murder is concerned, it appears to be some drug dealings. Arshad is a drug addict. He also has a theft case against him, and he was absconding in that case.”
The officer said that Arshad was in a disoriented state when he was caught. “He needs to be questioned after a proper medical examination,” the officer added.
The owner of the apartment had earlier warned Sajeev and others in the apartment to vacate the place at the earliest as he had found them using drugs. According to police, Arshad took Sajeev’s phone with him and even messaged their roommates after the latter's death.
Amjath, one of Sajeev’s roommates who was at his hometown Kozhikode when the incident happened, told media that he had received a message from Sajeev’s phone and did not suspect anything. Amjath also said that Arshad came to stay with them two weeks before the incident after one of their neighbours introduced him to them.
Sajeev’s father Ramakrishnan told media that his son called him last on August 14 and after that though he tried to contact him many times on the phone, he could not get through.