Mother in law suspected to have instigated murder of son’s wife

POLICE believe a Dundee mother was the mastermind behind the murder of her son’s common-law wife.

Sarika Madhan, 47, her husband Manoj, 58, and their older son Sanjoth, 28, were charged with the murder of Mercisha Tedpaul, 24, and appeared at the Dundee Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for their bail applications.

Tedpaul was the common-law wife of the Madhans’ son Nishkar, 26, and they have two children, aged 4 and 7 together. The couple, although not legally married, lived together for eight years with Madhan in a flat in Dundee Central.

The stay-at-home mother was reported missing on March 1.

After a massive manhunt, her lifeless body was found metres from the railway line, in the Peacevale area.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said that the cause of death was strangulation and that Tedpaul had also sustained blunt force trauma to the head.

An electrical cable was believed to be the murder weapon.

Madhan, a nurse, was apparently constantly at loggerheads with Tedpaul during the eight years that they lived together.

Police believed that Madhan’s alleged motive for wanting Tedpaul dead was to prevent her from moving out of the house with Nishkar and the children and she was opposed to them marrying.

Apart from the murder, Sanjoth was also charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice.

Manoj’s added charge was defeating the ends of justice and Madhan had robbery with aggravating circumstances to her name.

The State, represented by prosecutor Mphakamiseni Mdlalose, believed that the murder was planned and opposed bail for the accused.

Sanjoth’s bail application was scrutinised during Tuesday’s proceedings and the matter would continue on pre-arranged dates in April.

He intended pleading not guilty to the charges.

According to the Sunday Tribune’s sister publication, the Post, Sanjoth, who was a self-employed handyman, was doing repair work at a church on the day Tedpaul went missing.

It was alleged that Sanjoth had lunch at his mother’s flat and she had asked him to drive her and Tedpaul to a local shop before he headed back to the church.

After completing his work, he drove to his mother’s home but noticed her walking and gave her a lift.

He did not ask about Tedpaul.

Thereafter, he drove his sister, who had been caring for Tedpaul’s children during the day, to her home, before returning to his house.

Manoj called, requesting assistance with a burst water pipe at his tavern, a short distance away from where he lived.

Sanjoth got a change of clothing from his father as he said he was drenched with water while conducting the repairs.

His father insisted he sleep in a broken cold room at the tavern. While there, he received a call from his mother, who told him about Tedpaul’s disappearance.

He told Madhan he had no knowledge about the deceased’s whereabouts and was arrested a few hours later.

Shristi Dookhi, Tedpaul’s sister claimed that Madhan had previously displayed “hostile” tendencies towards her sister.

“My sister told me Nishkar’s mum always had it in for her, and complained about domestic work that needed to be done at home.”

Dookhi said that she and her husband Vishal had recently suggested to Tedpaul that she should move out of Madhan’s home together with Nishkar and the children.

“I asked her to stay with us. I sensed she was scared, and feared the consequences. I thought there was more to her troubles, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what,” she said.

Dookhi said she wished her sister had heeded her advice.

Tedpaul had sent a WhatsApp message to Dookhi early on the morning she was reported missing, to say she would be calling later and attached laughing emojis.

Having had a busy day at work, Dookhi realised late that evening that her sister had not called, as promised.

“Little did we know she was long gone,” said Dookhi.

Her concern about her sister heightened when Nishkar told her Tedpaul was not home when he returned from work.

Vishal began the search for Tedpaul, which drew much support from community members, organisations and the police.

After three days of intense searching with no breakthroughs, Tedpaul’s body was found on day four.

The news shattered Dookhi.

“It is like my heart has been violently ripped out.

The children are living with me. When they yearn for their mother, all I can do is give them hugs,” Dookhi said.

Nishkar had said that he wanted justice to take its course, he had distanced himself from his family implicated in Tedpaul’s murder and his children had been robbed of a mother.

He remained haunted by her last words to him, “I love you, I will see you later”, which never happened.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE