Young woman’s suspicious death in Thoothukudi turns out to be murder; brother, mother arrested

Kayathar police arrested a man and his mother from South Mayilodai village on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, on charges of murdering his 18-year-old sister, who was in a relationship with a man from Salem district.

According to the police, the deceased was identified as S. Abi Selvi. On Tuesday, June 9, Kayathar police launched an investigation into the incident after receiving information that the woman had allegedly died by suicide at her home. Police found his body and sent it to Tirunelveli Government Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.

presence of poison

However, police added that during the investigation, autopsy findings, including the presence of poison and injuries on his body, raised doubts about the circumstances surrounding his death.

In the undercover investigation, it was claimed that Abi Selvi was in a relationship with a man she met on social media.

Investigation later revealed that her brother S. Sivagnanam, 20, allegedly killed her following an argument over her relationship with the man. Police said their mother, 36-year-old Esther Pauline, was an accessory to the crime. Based on the findings, police arrested Sivagnanam and Esther Pauline late on Wednesday night. Further investigation is ongoing.

‘It is not intentional killing’

Meanwhile, Thoothukudi police on Thursday, June 11, rejected allegations that Abi Selvi’s murder was an ‘honour killing’. In the press release, it was stated that no evidence has emerged in the investigation carried out so far to confirm the claim that the incident was caste-based. The public was asked to know that the information circulating on social media describing the murder as an ‘honor killing’ was not verified and was contrary to the facts.