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A 65-year-old man arrested in connection with the recent disappearance of a woman in Kerala has now emerged as a key suspect in the disappearance of at least three other women over the past several years.
Sebastian, a real estate dealer from Pallipuram in Alappuzha district, was taken into custody on July 28 following fresh leads in the case of 60-year-old Jainamma (Jain Mathew) from Ettumanoor, Kottayam, who went missing in December 2024.
During a search of his property, police recovered burnt human remains, prompting them to reopen three older missing persons investigations in which Sebastian’s name had previously surfaced.
The discovery has led authorities to suspect a wider pattern of crimes. A detailed forensic examination is under way, and police are preparing for a large-scale search operation across the expansive compound of his residence in Chennampallipuram panchayat.
Jainamma was last seen on December 23, 2024. Her family initially believed she had gone to a meditation centre. However, when she failed to return and her phone remained unreachable, her siblings filed a missing person report.
Cyber cell tracking revealed that her mobile phone location had matched that of Sebastian’s in multiple areas. CCTV footage also showed him near a location where her phone was last traced. These findings eventually led to his arrest.
Following his arrest, police began re-examining his potential involvement in the case of Ayesha, a woman from Varanad in Cherthala who went missing a few years ago. On July 28, the investigation team found skeletal remains along with a dental cap on his property. When Jainamma's relatives confirmed that she did not have a dental cap, the suspicion shifted to Ayesha's disappearance.
Ayesha’s friend Rosamma had earlier told police that Ayesha had financial dealings with Sebastian and had approached him for help in purchasing land. Her case is now being reinvestigated by the Alappuzha district Crime Branch.
Sebastian is also under the scanner in the disappearance of Bindhu Padmanabhan, a woman from Kadakarappally who went missing over a decade ago. The first police action in this case at Sebastian’s residence dates back to 2018.
Bindhu’s brother had alleged that real estate agents, including Sebastian, had taken control of her assets worth several crores by forging documents. Investigations revealed that a woman named Mini had impersonated Bindhu to register a power of attorney, through which a property valued at Rs 5 crore was sold. While Mini surrendered in court, Sebastian was arrested and later released on bail.