Tamil Nadu: Woman burns 62-year-old husband alive to claim Rs 3.5 crore insurance money

A woman in Tamil Nadu allegedly connived with one of her relatives to murder her husband, in an attempt to claim insurance money of Rs 3.5 crore

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In a shocking incident that has emerged in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, a 57-year-old woman allegedly burnt her 62-year-old husband alive in his car with the help of one of her relatives for an insurance amount of Rs 3.5 crore rupees.

As per reports, the deceased was identified as K Rangaraj, a resident of Thudupathi in Erode district. He owned a power loom unit.

On March 15, he got injured in an accident, following which he was taken to a private hospital in Coimbatore for treatment.

On Thursday, the hospital discharged him and his wife R Jothimani and relative Raja made him sit in a van, and the trio began their journey to Thudupathi.

“When the vehicle reached Valasupalayam near Perumanallur around 11:30 pm, Raja stopped the vehicle. Raja and Jothimani got down from the vehicle, doused it with petrol, and set it on fire. Rangaraj was burnt alive. On early Friday morning, Raja informed the Tirupur rural police about the death, which he said was an accident.” said the police to TOI.

As per the report, due to the inconsistencies in Raja's responses about the incident the police grew suspicious. When they came to know that Raja had purchased petrol in the can, the police confronted him with the CCTV footage from the petrol pump and he confessed to the crime. Following which Jothimani was also arrested and the duo has been booked for murder.

The police investigation revealed that Rangaraj had taken loans of about Rs 1.5 crore from various lenders, who were constantly harassing Jothimani for money.

Police also informed that Rangaraj had taken three insurance policies worth Rs 3.5 crore and had nominated his wife for the same. Police said that Jothimani decided to kill him with the intention of claiming insurance money and to make it look like an accident.

“She went to Raja, who agreed to help her. She had given him Rs 50,000 as an advance, and offered Rs 1 lakh after her husband is dead,” police said.