Muhammad Rafi, a 58‑year‑old resident of Thriprayar, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon after police confirmed he strangled 79‑year‑old Savithri in her house in Karalam, Thrissur district. The murder unfolded in broad daylight, with Rafi entering while Savithri’s son Sumesh and daughter‑in‑law Greeshma were taking her husband Vijayan to a local veterinary hospital.
Rafi had previously begged Savithri to lend him her gold ornaments to clear mounting debts. When she refused, he seized the moment, strangled her with her saree, dragged her to the bedroom, and pressed a pillow over her face to ensure death before stealing the jewelry.
Police investigators noted the victim’s body was discovered by a grandchild returning from school. They found 128 grams of gold—roughly ₹1.5 crore—missing, along with marks of physical assault on her neck and hands. The scene was carefully examined by a 25‑member special investigation team led by Thrissur Rural District Police Chief Mohammed Nadeem.
The team included the Deputy Superintendent of Police from Irinjalakuda and inspectors from Kattur, Irinjalakuda, and Anthikad stations. A police dog tracked the scent to the kitchen and beyond the property, while forensic experts analyzed fingerprints and mobile tower data that linked Rafi to the scene.
Savithri’s body was brought home for post‑mortem at Thrissur Medical College and cremated on Wednesday afternoon. Rafi now faces murder and theft charges, and the police are preparing his trial; the next court hearing is scheduled for early November.