Dubai murder suspect kills self in India

Dubai - Devayani was detained last year in connection with the missing of Smitha George in Dubai in September 2005

A woman suspected of having a role in the missing of a woman 11 years ago in Dubai, allegedly committed suicide in the custody of the investigating agency in India, according to sources.
Devayani alias Annie Varghese was detained last year in connection with the missing of Smitha George in Dubai in September 2005. According to sources in Kerala, Devayani committed suicide by consuming poison last month while she was in the custody of India's Central Bureau of Investigation. She was taken from Kerala along with the main suspect - Smitha's husband Sabu Antony - to Gandhinagar in Gujarat for brain-mapping tests, where she consumed poison.
Shamsudheen Karunagappally, advocate of Smitha's family, told Khaleej Times that Antony has already undergone brain-mapping and it was Devayani's turn. They were taken to Gandhinagar on June 14. She allegedly consumed cleaning liquid and was admitted to a hospital in Gujarat by the agency for around two weeks before her death on July 9, sources disclosed. However, the CBI is yet to confirm her death.
Smitha Antony, a newly-wed who was just 25 then, was reported missing by Sabu Antony on September 3, 2005 - two days after her arrival in Dubai. The husband lodged a complaint with Al Rafaa police station and submitted a letter purportedly written by Smitha, which stated that she was eloping with her lover. However, it was later scientifically proven by the Kerala Police that the letter was written by Antony himself.
According to sources in the Kerala Police, Devayani was staying in the same flat with Sabu Antony in Dubai even after his marriage. Earlier, Devayani submitted a statement at a Kerala court that she had seen Sabu Antony attacking his wife with a sharp weapon. Antony was arrested by the Kerala Police and is out on bail now.
The Dubai Police had recovered a body suspected as Smitha's and it's being kept in a morgue for over 10 years. DNA tests were conducted to identify the body, but Indian investigating agencies are yet to receive the result, according to Smitha's family.
Ajay George, husband of Smitha's sister, told Khaleej Times that the death of Devayani has complicated the case again. "After her detention last year, we were of the hope that the case will be proven. When we were informed that they were being taken for brain-mapping test, our hopes doubled. But with this incident, we are again hopeless," George said over phone from Kochi, Kerala.
"There are more people involved in Smitha's murder including those who tried to save Sabu Antony and Devayani. As far as I know, the CBI has received crucial information from Antony in this regard. Devayani also was suspected of having a major role in this murder and it would have been come out if she was undergone brain mapping tests. I assume she took this drastic step to avoid that," said Shamsudheen Karunagappally.
He said the forensic department in Gujarat had conducted a matching test using the photo of the body in custody of the Dubai Police. "It matched with the picture of Smitha and they have confirmed that the body in custody is that of Smitha, he said, hoping that the case would be solved soon after the developments.
"Of course, the death of Devayani should be considered as a that of a major accused and is hindrance for the agency. But according to what I know, they already have enough information to continue the investigation," said Karunagappally.
anuwarrier@khaleejtimes.com
 

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