Kollam: The preliminary cross-examination of Uthra's relatives has been completed as the trial in the cold-blooded murder of the differently-abled woman allegedly by her husband, progresses at a sessions court here.

Uthra's father Vijayasenan and brother Vishu were cross-examined on Wednesday.

Vijayasenan deposed that accused Sooraj, Uthra’s husband, had tried to make it appear that she was frequently getting bitten by snakes due to ‘sarpa dosham’ (the wrath of snakes; a common belief).

According to Vijayasenan, Uthra was married off to Sooraj after he said he liked her. As was demanded, nearly 100 sovereigns of gold and a Rs 7-lakh car were given to Sooraj. He was also gifted a lot of money over several instances.”

“Months after the marriage, Sooraj and his family started mentally harassing Uthra. We were suspicious when Uthra was first bitten by a snake at her in-laws' house. But Sooraj convinced us that it was because of ‘sarpa dosham’. But when he picked up a scuffle over the assets after her death, I was sure that my daughter had been murdered," Vijayasenan deposed.

Her brother Vishu informed the court that he had killed the snake that bit Uthra.

As the cops were on election duty, Sooraj was presented via video-conferencing.

Uthra, a native of Anchal in Kollam, was killed in May 2020. Sooraj killed Uthra using a snake to get rid of her without losing out on the dowry, as per the probe team's findings.

Sooraj's parents and his sister are also accused in a domestic harassment case. The charge-sheet of this case is being prepared by the Kollam rural district Crime Branch.