Mangaluru police have arrested the couple who had allegedly murdered Shreemathi Shetty and dismembered the corpse before dumping it at different places across the city.
The parts of the corpse were found in gunny bags on Sunday.
The arrested couple has been identified as Johanas Julian Samson, 36, and his wife Victoria Mathais, 46, who are natives of Attavar and residents of Souterpet, Valencia.
Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil told reporters at the Commissionerate Hall on Wednesday that Samson had murdered Shrimathi in a fit of rage.
Samson owned a fast food shop at Nandigudda and had incurred huge losses. He had, therefore, borrowed Rs one lakh from Shreemathi.
When Shreemathi went to his house to recover the dues to a tune of Rs 60,000 on Saturday morning, Samson attacked her with a lethal weapon and killed her.
The body was kept in the house throughout the day. The limbs were cut and placed in separate bags, which were taken on a two-wheeler and dumped by the NH 66 and at Nandigudda at nightfall.
A case was registered at Kadri (East) Police Station.
As soon as the dismembered parts of the corpse were discovered, the police commissioner formed a 30-member team with personnel from the CCB, Kankanady and Pandeshwar police stations.
When the police, acting on clues, nabbed Samson, he attempted to commit suicide. Following a round of injuries, Samson is now recovering in a hospital.
Apart from the two-wheeler used to transport the mutilated body parts, eight golden rings and a gold chain belonging to Shreemathi were confiscated from the arrested couple.
Samson had been accused in the murder of John Mendonca in Mangaluru South police station limits.
Sandeep Patil said the investigation is underway in order to unearth information about the involvement of more people in the murder of Shreemathi.