The Crime Branch (CB) team investigating the Bindhu Padmanabhan missing case has widened the probe. During interrogation, key suspect Sebastian C.M., of Pallippuram, near Cherthala, has confessed to killing and burying Bindhu, a native of Kadakkarappally, who had been missing for 19 years.
The CB believes Bindhu was murdered in May 2006. Sebastian admitted that the murder took place at his Pallippuram house, where evidence was collected on September 27. He told investigators that the murder was carried out to extort ₹1.5 lakh, which Bindhu had received as an advance for the sale of her property in Ambalappuzha. Sebastian reportedly strangled her with a shawl, dismembered the body and buried the parts in his house compound. After decomposition, he collected the bones, burned them, and scattered the ashes in different locations.
Investigators believe the murder and disposal of the body took place over several months. Sebastian told them that he could not remember the exact locations where he buried the body parts or scattered the ashes.
Bindhu had received the amount on May 7, 2006. A dispute over the money between her and Sebastian, the CB concluded, provoked the murder.
The CB recently booked Sebastian, who has been in remand for nearly two months in connection with the disappearance of another woman, Jainamma (Jain Mathew), from Ettumanur, under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the Bindhu case.
Sebastian had previously not cooperated with the investigation into Bindhu’s disappearance. In May 2018, the police launched a probe based on a complaint by Bindhu’s brother, Praveen Kumar, stating that his sister, who owned assets worth crores, had gone missing under mysterious circumstances. He also alleged that some real estate brokers had taken possession of her assets by forging documents.
The investigation revealed that Sebastian and another person T. Mini, alias Jaya, had sold Bindhu’s assets after forging documents. According to the police, a power of attorney was registered at Pattanakkad sub-registrar’s office in 2013, with Mini signing the papers posing as Bindhu. Following this, a property worth ₹5 crore owned by Bindhu was sold to a Changanassery native, who later resold it.
As the investigation progressed, Mini surrendered before a local court, while police arrested Sebastian in connection with document forgery and illegal land deals. Though Sebastian was questioned about Bindhu’s whereabouts, it yielded no results. He was later released on bail.
Jainamma missing case
The Jainamma missing case is being probed by the Kottayam CB. The CB believes Jainamma was murdered by Sebastian. During the investigation, blood stains, a purse, and a watch belonging to Jainamma were found at Sebastian’s house at Pallippuram. Burnt remains and bone fragments were recovered from the house compound, but DNA testing has not yet confirmed whether they belong to Jainamma.
Besides the Jainamma and Bindhu cases, Sebastian is also under investigation in connection with the disappearance of another woman, Ayesha, from Varanad in Cherthala.
Published – September 28, 2025 06:33 pm IST
