A couple from central Kerala has been arrested for allegedly luring two men into their home and subjecting them to gruesome acts of physical and psychological torture, including sexual humiliation, beatings with metal objects, and stapling their bodies including their genitals. Investigators are now examining whether the crimes had links to occult practices or were fueled by personal revenge.

The accused, 30-year-old Jayesh and his wife Reshmi, 25, were taken into custody on September 12 from Koipuram village in Pathanamthitta district. Both are now in judicial custody, and a special investigative team is probing the two separate but chillingly similar incidents that occurred on September 1 and 5.

Revenge or Ritual? The Motive Under Scrutiny

While police have registered cases under several sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 296(b), 351(3), and 126(2), they say the full motive remains unclear. One victim alleged that the assault felt like a ritualistic act, possibly linked to black magic. However, officials say that this angle is still being verified.

An officer involved in the investigation said, “Whether they targeted more victims remains to be investigated. One of the victims claimed they were assaulted as part of a black magic ritual, but this needs to be verified.”

A police source added that Reshmi had maintained relationships with both victims through messaging apps. Jayesh, after allegedly discovering the chats, is believed to have orchestrated the attacks as a form of vengeance, with Reshmi’s cooperation.

September 5 Attack: Victim Hung from Beam, Genitals Stapled

The second known assault occurred during the Onam festival. The 29-year-old male victim, from Ranni in Pathanamthitta, told police that Jayesh invited him over to join the couple for celebrations. But upon arrival, he was reportedly ambushed with pepper spray.

“Jayesh wanted me to come to his home on day of Onam and join the celebrations. When I reached his house, Jayesh greeted me with pepper spray and thrashed me without any provocation. Both my hands were tied and I was hung from a wooden pole overhead. Reshmi brutally attacked me with various objects, including iron rods,” the victim said in his statement.

He further recounted: “While Reshmi tortured me, Jayesh recorded it on a mobile phone. My privates were stapled several times. At around 8 pm that day, the couple took me on Jayesh’s scooter and abandoned me at a location called Puthumon.”

Initially, the victim gave a false statement claiming he was attacked by the family of a girlfriend. According to the police, the couple had forced him to fabricate that story, threatening to kill him if he revealed the truth. He later confessed the actual events after police officers gained his trust.

September 1 Incident: Teen Victim Assaulted, Filmed, and Robbed

The first known case dates back to September 1, when a 19-year-old man from Neelamperoor in Alappuzha was invited to the couple’s home. Jayesh reportedly picked him up from Maramon on his motorcycle.

Upon arriving at their residence, the victim was allegedly tied up with a shawl and hung from a wooden beam. He told police that Jayesh switched on a camera and demanded he simulate sexual activity with Reshmi. When he resisted, he was beaten with iron rods, cycle chains, and attacked with a cutting plier.

The couple allegedly stole Rs 19,000 from his wallet, seized two mobile phones, and pepper-sprayed his genitals before abandoning him at a nearby autorickshaw stand. He remained silent about the incident until the second case came to light and police linked the two assaults.

Couple Known for Seclusion, Financial Hardship

Locals from Koipuram described the couple as socially isolated. “They rarely interacted with others. Jayesh used to work as an operator of an earthmover while his wife had been doing odd jobs with a catering firm. But the woman used to always complain about financial constraints and hand-to-mouth existence,” said a neighbor who requested anonymity.

Jayesh also has a criminal background, with a previous POCSO case in which he was imprisoned before marrying Reshmi. The couple have two children.

Police Investigate More Possible Victims

Pathanamthitta district police chief R Anand said both cases are being investigated together. One FIR was originally filed at Aranmula police station and later consolidated at Koipuram.

“Both cases are at their preliminary stage. We have to look into whether the accused persons have committed more crimes in the same fashion. A detailed scientific probe is required as the accused are not cooperating with the police,” said the SP.

Police are now combing through phone records, chat histories, and surveillance data to determine if other individuals were targeted by the couple in a similar fashion.