Kochi, 27 May (H.S.):A home nurse and her friend have been arrested for allegedly stealing gold ornaments from an elderly bedridden woman in Kerala’s Muvattupuzha, with the accused reportedly using a disguise and an elaborate plan to mislead investigators.

The arrested women were identified as Sudha Shankar (38), a native of Sempatti in Sindhupatti, Madurai district, and Lakshmi (46) of Pottikkalam in Malayagoundanpatti, Dindigul district, both in Tamil Nadu. Police also recovered the stolen jewellery, which had been buried behind the victim’s house.

According to police, the theft took place around 8.30 a.m. on May 24 at the residence of 84-year-old Mariyamma at Maanjarippady in Marady near Muvattupuzha. Nearly 10 sovereigns of gold ornaments worn by the elderly woman were forcibly removed while she was bedridden.

Sudha had been working as Mariyamma’s home nurse. Investigators said the crime was carefully planned by Sudha and her longtime friend Lakshmi, who had secretly arrived at the house a day before the incident and stayed there in hiding.

Police said the accused waited until family members left for church on Sunday morning. Lakshmi then allegedly dressed in men’s clothing, including pants and a shirt, to avoid suspicion before entering Mariyamma’s room and forcibly removing the jewellery from her body. During the theft, Sudha reportedly hid inside the bathroom to create the impression that an outsider had committed the crime.

After stealing the ornaments, Lakshmi wrapped them in a cloth bundle and buried them near a waste-burning area behind the house before fleeing the scene.

Investigators said Lakshmi had earlier informed the household where she worked that she would be visiting Sudha’s residence and had even shared Sudha’s phone number. When Lakshmi failed to return to work on Sunday, her employers contacted Sudha, helping police trace the suspects.

Police later found suspicious evidence, including dirty clothes and trousers, at Lakshmi’s rented room. CCTV footage from a nearby church also showed a woman walking towards the victim’s house around the time of the incident.

Following sustained questioning, Lakshmi reportedly confessed to the crime, exposing the conspiracy. Police said the accused attempted to derail the investigation through fabricated stories and the use of a male disguise.

The accused were arrested by a special investigation team led by Muvattupuzha DySP Abdul Muneer.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman