A 33-year-old man allegedly murdered his "lookalike" in order to escape from a rape case at Manimoortheeswaram in Tirunelveli district, police said on Thursday.

Sudalairaj, for whom a search is on after his drama came to light recently, had allegedly raped a minor girl about four months ago promising to marry her.

He went absconding after she became pregnant and a rape complaint was lodged against him.

Meanwhile, Sudalairaj allegedly murdered his "look alike", disfigured his face and kept his voter ID card and mobile phone in his shirt pocket to give an impression that the dead man was he himself, police said.

Sudalairaj's parents also joined him in the drama identifying the body of the youth as their son's following which police handed it over to them for cremation.

Sudalairaj's wife also put on a 'widow' appearance, to give further credence to the drama.

However, one of the friends of Sudalairaj, who went to Tiruppur to work in a company, met him there.

Sudalairaj had confessed to his friend that he was leading an underground life.

The friend informed police following which a special team was formed to nab Sudalairaj, police said.