Reena was married to A. Raja, 37, an electrician who was an alcoholic and regularly used to physically assault her. On December 22 the two entered into a fight and Reena informed her relatives that Raja died of over-drinking.

However, Thodiyur police found that the body bore bruise marks on his neck, and a post-mortem was conducted. The report revealed that Raja was strangled to death.

On further interrogation, Reena confessed to the police that she, along with her lover, Satheesh had done away with Raja unable to bear his torture.

Satheesh was related to Reena and the duo was in a relationship that was objected to by Raja. The duo murdered Raja and tried to project it as a death due to excessive consumption of alcohol.