Cherthala: A radar survey was carried out on Wednesday at the premises of Sebastian’s residence in Pallippuram, in connection with the disappearance of multiple women. The Crime Branch team, which currently has Sebastian in custody, began the inspection using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) from Wednesday morning onwards.

So far, signals have been detected from three locations within the compound. Although excavation has commenced at all three spots, no evidence has been recovered yet. The investigation is being led by the Alappuzha unit of the Crime Branch, assisted by a team from the National Centre for Earth Science.

Earlier on Wednesday, a GPR scan was done inside Sebastian’s house. This was followed by the external survey in the yard, which had been cleared of all vegetation in preparation. The forensic technology was deployed to detect whether any human remains were buried in the property.

Meanwhile, with Sebastian's custody period coming to an end on Wednesday, reports suggest he has yet to cooperate with the interrogation. The investigation team has now begun steps to question him using scientific methods. His wife Subi is currently being questioned at the Kottayam Crime Branch office.

Sebastian was earlier arrested in a case related to the illegal transfer and sale of assets belonging to Bindu Padmanabhan. Although he was initially linked to her disappearance, no evidence surfaced at the time. However, he was taken into custody again following developments in the disappearance of Jainamma from Ettumanoor. In this case, remains suspected to be human were recovered from his Pallippuram property. Forensic experts are conducting DNA tests to determine the identity of the remains, with results expected by Thursday. The investigation is currently at a standstill until the DNA results arrive.

The Alappuzha Crime Branch, which is also investigating the disappearance of Hajirumma (also known as Ayesha), has initiated proceedings to take Sebastian into custody for questioning in that case as well.

Crime branch suspects all three missing women were murdered

Investigating officers believe that Bindu Padmanabhan, Hajirumma (Ayesha) and Jainamma, all of whom went missing under suspicious circumstances, may have been murdered. Though links between Sebastian and all three cases have been established through evidence, key questions such as how and when the alleged murders took place, and how and where the bodies were disposed of, remain unanswered. The only solid evidence uncovered so far are the partial human remains recovered from Sebastian’s yard on July 28.

Bindu Padmanabhan

Sebastian was first named in the investigation into the disappearance of Bindu Padmanabhan, a native of Kadakkarappally. Her brother P Praveen Kumar filed a missing person’s report in September 2017. Bindu, daughter of former Excise Circle Inspector Padmanabha Pillai, was the heir to property worth crores. She had been estranged from her family before the deaths of her parents and had sold most of the inherited assets with Sebastian's assistance.

Investigations revealed that Bindu sold all her assets by 2003, within short intervals. Although she completed her MBA and is believed to have lived until 2006, her continued existence after that year remains unverified. Earlier, the case had been probed by the Pattanakkad Police and a special investigation team. It is now being handled by the State Crime Branch.

Sebastian was named in the case following her brother’s allegation that he murdered Bindu.

Hajirumma alias Ayesha

Hajirumma, also known as Ayesha (62), a retired municipal employee from Ward 7 of Cherthala Municipality, went missing on May 13, 2018. Estranged from her husband, she first lived with her son and later moved out to live alone. She had expressed interest in purchasing five cents of land near her house and was introduced to Sebastian through a trusted female neighbour.

Ayesha was last seen wearing jewellery and carrying money, and investigators suspect her final destination was Sebastian’s residence. Her son later filed a police complaint. Initial investigations had falsely linked a body found in Muvattupuzha to her, leading to a premature closure of the case. However, it was reopened amid rising concerns related to the Bindu Padmanabhan investigation. This case too is now being investigated by the Alappuzha Crime Branch.