“She hired him as a cook and also helped him stay in her house on NSR Road in Saibaba Colony. Rajesh, however began to make sexual advances towards her despite her resistance. Unable to bear his torture, Sangeetha threatened to lodge a police complaint against him resulting in her murder on Sunday night,” police said.

After murdering her by slitting the throat, the accused had left her body in a plastic drum used for storing water. He also emptied packs of crystal salt into the drum to delay the process of decomposition and also detection of the murder.

He then fled with Rs 20,000 from the house and bought a new mobile phone.

Police registered a case against the accused under IPC section 302 for murder and 201 for causing disappearance of evidence of offence and arrested him from a hideout.