A 60-year-old woman, Saraswattee Mootia, was found dead in her vegetable plantation in Triolet, Mauritius, on September 18. According to the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), her brother, Satyama Tany, 53, and daughter-in-law, Khoosboo Mootia, 29, are suspected of planning and orchestrating her murder. The motive behind the killing appears to be Saraswattee Mootia's suspected knowledge of an affair between her brother and daughter-in-law.
The investigation revealed that Satyama Tany, also known as Pritam, frequently visited his sister's residence in Triolet, often staying for extended periods. During one of these visits, which lasted about nine months, his son was away in Italy, and Pritam allegedly grew closer to Khoosboo Mootia. Saraswattee Mootia reportedly suspected an affair between her brother and daughter-in-law, leading to violent disputes between the siblings.
The disputes between Saraswattee Mootia and Pritam were reportedly due to her disapproval of his behavior at the family residence. However, her son remained unaware of these tensions until his return from Italy. A new altercation broke out between Saraswattee Mootia and Pritam last month, and it is alleged that Khoosboo Mootia and Pritam decided to have Saraswattee Mootia killed, considering her too intrusive and "encombrante" in their lives.
Pritam allegedly approached a long-time acquaintance, Radhakrishna Mooneesawmy, from Petit-Raffray, and solicited him to commit the murder. Radhakrishna Mooneesawmy was promised Rs 1 million for the crime and was taken to Saraswattee Mootia's plantation to familiarize himself with the location. He was arrested and initially provided a false account, which was later disputed by the MCIT.
Radhakrishna Mooneesawmy eventually implicated Pritam in the murder plot and participated in a reenactment of the crime on Friday afternoon. Pritam and Khoosboo Mootia were arrested on Thursday, September 24, and appeared in court on Friday, September 25, facing provisional charges of "giving instructions to commit murder" and "conspiracy," respectively.
During interrogation, Khoosboo Mootia reportedly acknowledged her involvement and described the meeting with Pritam at a Grand-Baie parking lot, as well as the reasons behind their decision to eliminate Saraswattee Mootia. Pritam has yet to provide his account of the events, awaiting representation by his lawyer. The investigation is ongoing, with the MCIT continuing to verify the evidence.
The case highlights the severe consequences of family disputes and the extreme measures some individuals may take to resolve them. The MCIT's successful investigation and arrests demonstrate the authorities' commitment to addressing such crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice. The suspects remain in police custody as the investigation continues.
Key points
- Saraswattee Mootia's brother and daughter-in-law are suspected of planning and orchestrating her murder due to her suspected knowledge of their affair.
- The motive behind the killing was Saraswattee Mootia's suspected knowledge of the affair and her intrusive nature in their lives.
- Three suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, with further investigation ongoing.
