Chennai: The Bengaluru police arrested a woman and her son in connection with the murder of woman's mother in 2016. The police traced the accused with the help of Know Your Customer details submitted at the bank.

The duo murdered the woman in 2016, cemented her body in the cupboard of their rented home in Kengeri satellite town, and later vacated and left to Kolhapur.


On August 10, 2016, a 70-year-old woman Shantha Kumari was murdered by her grandson Sanjay Vasudev Rao. Sanjay murdered his grandmother in a fit of rage after she chided him for buying gobi manchurian in Kengeri satellite town. 


Sanjay then with the help of his friend Nandeesh cemented the body in the closet of their home. 


Also Read | Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi Promulgates Ordinance On Online Gambling


Rao and his mother Shashikala informed the neighbours that Kumari went to Shivamogga their hometown. The duo also vacated their home.


The crime came to light after the house owner renovated the home in May 2017 and they found the buried body in a decomposed state. The police sent the sample to forensics and they found out that it was the body of Kumari. 


The police then picked up Nandheesh who revealed about the crime in 2016. Later, the police arrested Nandheesh since he helped the accused to destroy the evidence.


They were on the lookout to arrest the Rao and Shashikala. However, they were unable to trace the accused. The police then approached the bank with Rao's Aadhaar card and PAN card. They found out that an SBI bank account was operating in Kolhapur with Rao's credentials. 


Also Read | TN CM Stalin Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex Gratia To Kin Of 3 Kids Who Died Of 'Food Poisoning' At Children's Home


The police left to Kolhapur and arrested Rao and his mother from Maharashtra town. In Kolhapur, he was working as a waiter while his mother was working as a house helper. 


Rao who was an aeronautical student in 2016 discontinued his education. Rao was a bright student but he led a low-profile life after the incident to evade arrest. He also quit education, said the police.


Rao also planned to take Kumari's body to Shivamogga to make it appear like a natural death. However the plan did not work, the report said. 


The police who closed the investigation during COVID-19 pandemic reopened the case after a review meeting recently.