Rajakumari (Idukki): The police have taken a couple into custody over the murder of a cardamom estate owner and worker at Naduppara, Chinnakanal, and a search is on for the prime suspect who is known to them.

The image of the prime suspect, an estate supervisor, has been released. Police suspect the supervisor – Panjiparambil Bobin, a resident of Kuruvila City, Idukki, has escaped to Tamil Nadu through the forest.

The body of estate owner Kaithayil Jacob Varghese (Rajesh, 40) from Manganam, Kottayam, was found in the estate on Sunday. He had been shot in the chest. The murder weapon, probably his own gun, is yet to be recovered. The body of worker Muthayya, 55, who stayed near Chinnakkanal Powerhouse, was found in a storeroom nearby. He had a deep cut to his head.

The bodies were returned to the relatives after post mortem at Kottayam Medical College and burials held.

Bobin had joined the estate only last Thursday. He stole 143kg cardamom from the estate’s storeroom and sold it at a shop at Poopara for Rs 1.5 lakh, said the police. The cargo was taken in Jacob’s SUV on Saturday.

Subsequently, Bobin stayed at the arrested couple's house at Santhanpara, Cheriyar. The man is Bobin's friend.

The police believe the murders happened on Saturday morning. Bobin had checked in to a private hospital at Nedunkandam for an injury to his hand that required 18 stitches. Bobin’s cell phone was last active on Sunday evening in Santhanpara.

Jacob’s SUV was found abandoned near St Maria Goretti Church, Murikkumthotti. Forensic experts inspected the vehicle.

The investigation is being carried out by two teams that include Munnar DYSP Sunish Babu, Santhanpara CI S Chandrakumar, sub-inspectors PD Anoopmon, B Vinod Kumar and KP Radhakrishnan.

Jacob was living alone in a house in the middle of the 40-acre estate. Muthaiah used to assist him during harvest.

Jacob, who also owns the Rhythms of My Mind resort at Naduppara, had been to his native place for Christmas and returned on the New Year day to the estate. He had called home on Friday.

The family lodged a man missing complaint on Saturday. Since they could not reach Muthaiah also on the phone, they travelled to the estate where they found the bodies.

Jacob, son of Dr K K Varghese and Dr Suseela Varghese, was abroad and had returned four years ago. He is survived by his wife Kesia and daughter Nadaniya.

Muthaiah's wife is Muthumari and children Pavithra and Pavan Kumar.