Kerala: Police have handed over the investigation into the Ayesha murder case to the Crime Branch
CHERTHALA: The murder case of Ayesha (Hairumma) from Cherthala, in which Sebastian, a resident of Pallippuram in Cherthala, is the accused, will be handed over to the State Crime Branch. The case is currently being investigated by the Cherthala police, but this step is being taken because no physical evidence, including the body, has been recovered. The necessary procedures have been completed by the District Police Chief.
The investigation began in 2012 when relatives filed a complaint that Ayesha was missing. Later, the police registered a murder case based on a statement that she had been killed at Sebastian’s house. A similar situation exists in the case of Bindu Padmanabhan from Kadakarappally, who was found dead under similar circumstances in May 2006. That case is also being investigated by the State Crime Branch. Although the police believe that Sebastian committed both murders, no scientific evidence has been found so far. In the Bindu Padmanabhan case, the Crime Branch had filed a preliminary charge sheet. Officials believe that having both cases investigated by the same team will help in gathering evidence. Crucial Evidence
In another case investigated by the Kottayam District Crime Branch, crucial evidence has been included in the charge sheet against Sebastian in the murder of Jainamma (55) from Athirampuzha in Ettumanoor. DNA analysis of bloodstains found at Sebastian’s house confirmed that the bone fragments recovered from the house also belonged to Jainamma. The charge sheet was filed with this evidence. Of the three murder cases linked to Sebastian, this is the only one in which scientific evidence has been found so far. Jainamma, who went missing in December 2024, is believed to have been murdered on the same day. The murder, which took place at Sebastian’s house in Pallippuram, was uncovered in July 2025. During questioning after his arrest, it was revealed that Bindu Padmanabhan and later Ayesha had also been murdered. The trial is expected to begin soon.
This was confirmed after DNA testing was conducted on blood samples from Jainamma’s siblings. Since the bone fragments were charred, the testing was done at a lab in Chandigarh, which caused a delay in receiving the results. Police also discovered that Sebastian had pawned Jainamma’s gold jewelry and later sold it. The trial in this case is expected to begin shortly.
