Serial actress found dead at home, rape suspected

Jayasheeli (49) was allegedly smothered to death with a pillow and is suspected to have died two days ago. Police suspect that someone familiar to the victim entered the room and sexually abused her before the murder as there were no clothes on her body and there were condoms strew inside the room.

“Only after the post-mortem report comes out can we determine the cause of death and whether it was a sexual abuse. Someone known to her is suspected to have carried out the murder as there was no sign of forced entry into the house. The main door was partially open and the grill gate was locked,” the police said.  Jayasheeli worked as an LIC agent and did minor-roles for tele-serials and advertisements. She was part of the famed Saravana Meenatchi serial. 

A resident of Periyar Street, Gandhi Nagar in Saligramma, Jayasheeli who was unmarried lived with brother Premkumar on the first floor of the apartment complex which has nine apartments. Her siblings and parents lived in their native in Salem. Recently, Premkumar had gone to their native while Jayasheeli stayed back. On Friday night she spoke to her mother over the phone, after which the parents tried contacting her but the calls were never answered. Premkumar, along with her sister left for Chennai when Jayasheeli’s phone was found to be switched off. They reached the house on Sunday noon only to find her dead and informed the police. 

Sniffer dogs, which were pressed into service went for nearly a kilometre away from the apartment premises until they lost track of the scent. Her body was sent to the Government Royapettah Hospital for a post-mortem. The Virugambakkam police have registered a case and are investigating.