Murder for a four-and-a-half-sovereign chain; Accused Rajendran found guilty in Vineetha murder case

Thiruvananthapuram: The Thiruvananthapuram Seventh Additional District Sessions Judge, Prasoon Mohan, has found the accused in the Vineetha murder case guilty of the crime. Vineetha (38), a resident of Charuvallikonam, Karippur, Nedumangad, was employed at an ornamental plant shop in Ambalammukku. She was brutally murdered in broad daylight by Rajendran, a native of Vellamadam, Rajiv Nagar in Thovalai, Kanyakumari.

According to the prosecution, the motive for the murder was to steal Vineetha’s 4.5 sovereign gold chain. Rajendran stabbed her to death and the crime occurred on February 6, 2022, at 11:50 am. He arrived at the shop pretending to be a customer looking to buy plants. Vineetha had started working there just nine months before the incident, following the death of her husband, who suffered from heart disease. She took the job to support her two children.

At the time of the murder, the accused was out on bail in another case involving the murder of Subbiah—a customs officer from Vellamadam, wife Vasanthi, and their 13-year-old adopted daughter Abhishree. CCTV footage showing Rajendran arriving at and leaving the crime scene was submitted by the prosecution to the court, proving his involvement in the murder.

Though there were no eyewitnesses, the prosecution relied entirely on circumstantial evidence. Out of 118 witnesses, 96 were examined. The evidence submitted included 12 pen drives, 7 DVDs containing CCTV footage of the accused's movements, and 222 documents. Special Public Prosecutor M Salahuddin appeared on behalf of the prosecution.