<p>Idukki, Kerala: Three persons have been detained in connection with the recovery of the dead body of a man missing since Thursday morning in this hill district, police said.</p>.<p>The preliminary investigation indicates it may be a case of murder. The deceased has been identified as Biju Joseph, a native of Chungam in Thodupuzha, police added.</p>.<p>Joseph's body was found in a manhole located inside a godown of a catering firm in Kalayanthani, near Thodupuzha.</p>.<p>He had been missing since early Thursday after leaving home for a morning walk. On Friday, his relatives filed a missing person report with the Thodupuzha police.</p>.<p>During the investigation, police recovered Joseph's clothes and shoes.</p>.<p>According to police, investigators initially attempted to contact his former business partner, a native of Kalayanthani, but his phone was switched off.</p>.'Murdered' woman returns home in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur; four accused still in jail.<p>As the probe progressed, three persons, including the business partner, were taken into custody.</p>.<p>Joseph’s death has been linked to a financial dispute with his former business partner, police said.</p>.<p>The two had been involved in joint businesses, but Joseph had allegedly refused to pay his partner’s share despite repeated demands.</p>.<p>In response, the business partner is suspected of hiring two goons from Kochi to abduct Joseph. However, during the abduction, a scuffle ensued, leading to Joseph's death, police said.</p>.<p>The trio then disposed of the body in a manhole leading to a waste disposal pit inside the godown, later covering it with food waste.</p>.<p>The catering firm where the body was found is owned by Joseph’s former business partner, who is now in police custody.</p>.<p>Of the two other accused, one was previously ordered to leave and not allowed to enter Ernakulam under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).</p>.<p>The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be disclosed later, a senior police officer said.</p>
<p>Idukki, Kerala: Three persons have been detained in connection with the recovery of the dead body of a man missing since Thursday morning in this hill district, police said.</p>.<p>The preliminary investigation indicates it may be a case of murder. The deceased has been identified as Biju Joseph, a native of Chungam in Thodupuzha, police added.</p>.<p>Joseph's body was found in a manhole located inside a godown of a catering firm in Kalayanthani, near Thodupuzha.</p>.<p>He had been missing since early Thursday after leaving home for a morning walk. On Friday, his relatives filed a missing person report with the Thodupuzha police.</p>.<p>During the investigation, police recovered Joseph's clothes and shoes.</p>.<p>According to police, investigators initially attempted to contact his former business partner, a native of Kalayanthani, but his phone was switched off.</p>.'Murdered' woman returns home in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur; four accused still in jail.<p>As the probe progressed, three persons, including the business partner, were taken into custody.</p>.<p>Joseph’s death has been linked to a financial dispute with his former business partner, police said.</p>.<p>The two had been involved in joint businesses, but Joseph had allegedly refused to pay his partner’s share despite repeated demands.</p>.<p>In response, the business partner is suspected of hiring two goons from Kochi to abduct Joseph. However, during the abduction, a scuffle ensued, leading to Joseph's death, police said.</p>.<p>The trio then disposed of the body in a manhole leading to a waste disposal pit inside the godown, later covering it with food waste.</p>.<p>The catering firm where the body was found is owned by Joseph’s former business partner, who is now in police custody.</p>.<p>Of the two other accused, one was previously ordered to leave and not allowed to enter Ernakulam under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).</p>.<p>The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be disclosed later, a senior police officer said.</p>