PWD employee murders auto driver over alleged affair with wife; arrested

Trichy: A public works department (PWD) employee was arrested on Thursday for allegedly murdering an auto-rickshaw driver after suspecting him of having an affair with his wife.The victim, Thangadurai, 45, of Vaazhkkai village near Tharangambadi in Mayiladuthurai district, was found dead with injuries outside the house of his friend Sambathkumar in Koodalur village on Wednesday night.

His auto-rickshaw was found parked nearby.Sembanarkoil police recovered the body and sent it to the Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruvarur for postmortem.During the investigation, police questioned Sambathkumar, 45, an assistant in the buildings wing of the PWD, after the victim’s father, Radhakrishnan, told them that Thangadurai had gone to meet him on Wednesday. Police said Sambathkumar later confessed to the crime.According to police, Thangadurai and Sambathkumar were friends and often consumed liquor together. Investigators said Thangadurai allegedly developed an extramarital relationship with Sambathkumar’s wife, leading to frequent disputes between the couple. The woman had reportedly left for Chennai last month following the disagreements.Police said Thangadurai visited Sambathkumar’s house on Wednesday afternoon and the two consumed liquor together. An argument allegedly broke out between them and escalated into a physical altercation, during which Sambathkumar is accused of assaulting and strangling Thangadurai with a rope.A murder case has been registered. Sambathkumar was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Further investigation is underway.