Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kozhikode City) Arun K. Pavithran on Sunday (June 29, 2025) said the special investigation team that cracked the Hemachandran murder case after a 16-month-long probe has identified more suspects, including two women.

At a press conference held here to explain the strategies adopted by the police to crack the case, which was initially registered as a man-missing case at the Medical College police station on April 1, 2024, he said legal measures were in place to repatriate prime suspect Noushad who left for Saudi Arabia after planning and executing the alleged murder.

“A lookout circular has already been issued against him. Hemachandran’s body, which was exhumed from the Cherambadi forest in Tamil Nadu on Saturday (June 28, 2025), has been shifted to the medical college mortuary after the post-mortem for further identification procedures, including a DNA test,” said Mr. Pavithran.

He also confirmed that financial dealings and related disputes led to the “planned abduction and murder” of the 52-year-old man, with the support of accomplices including Wayanad natives Jyothish Kumar and B.S. Ajesh, who have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody in connection with the case.

“The recovery of the victim’s body was the most crucial step in the investigation. Our team examined the call detail records of over 400 persons to identify the suspects. Their contradictory statements and failed attempts to mislead the investigation using the victim’s mobile phone also helped us make progress,” said Mr. Pavithran. He also revealed that an accidental call made from the missing man’s phone to his daughter became a crucial lead, helping the police trace the suspects.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Medical College) A. Umesh, who led the special investigation team, said the statements of suspects had been recorded multiple times to compare them with scientific evidence and uncover contradictions.

“We are awaiting the post-mortem report to confirm more details about the murder. It was on March 20, 2024, that the Wayanad native, who was living with his family in a rented house near Mayanad in Kozhikode city, went missing. We registered a case based on a complaint from his wife,” said Mr. Umesh. He added that more details regarding the case and the ongoing investigation would be disclosed following the arrest of the remaining suspects.

Investigating Officer P.K. Jijeesh said the arrests of the remaining suspects could be recorded within three or four days.