CHENNAI: The vice president of Vichoor panchayat and family approached the Chief Minister’s special cell on Monday, seeking intervention to ensure justice in her husband’s murder. The Avadi city police had last week arrested five people in connection with the murder, but the family alleged that they were not directly involved in the crime.

In the first week of October, S Suman (47) was murdered after an alleged argument between relatives over adding name in the invitation for a temple festival in Manali. Last week, the Avadi city police had arrested five persons in connection with the murder. However, Suman’s wife Vaidehi and his family members approached the Secretariat claiming that the actual accused in the murder is the president of Vichoor panchayat, who had previous enmity with Suman and urged the Chief Minister to intervene.

During a gathering among village elders to discuss the preparations for the upcoming temple festival, one of the arrested persons, Saran (34), had picked up an argument over his name not being included in the notice and invitations.

As the elders were trying to pacify him, Suman’s elder brother, Suresh, allegedly assaulted Saran. Suman came to his brother’s support and asked Saran to leave the place. According to the police, Suman was murdered in retaliation to this incident.

While they were checking the bags of the family members before letting them inside, the police personnel on security duty found a small knife inside the bag carried by Suman’s eight-year-old son. When questioned, the family claimed that it was used to cut fruits. Police seized the knife and allowed them inside.