An ex-serviceman, Duraipandian, 64, who went missing since February 27, was found murdered by two of his acquaintances near Mallankinaru, who had dumped his body in a tar plant.

His skeleton was exhumed from the tar plant and post-mortem conducted here on Thursday.

According to police sources, the deceased had not attended phone calls from his wife, Malarvizhi, 54, a headmistress of a school in Tirupattur. The woman was staying in Kundrakudi and her husband used to come often to his native place in Azhagianallur near Mallankinaru.

After searching for him for a few days, the wife lodged a complaint with Kundrakudi police station in Sivaganga district on March 1.

The police which began investigation, based on the phone call records picked up two persons, his friend, Pandi and Ramkumar. They had reportedly confessed to have murdered Duraipandi and dumped the body in the tar plant, where Ramkumar was working.

The police said that Ramkumar had helped Duraipandian buy a used SUV for ₹3.40 lakh. However, subsequently he got to know that the actual cost of the vehicle was only ₹2.40 lakh.

Duraipandian had threatened Ramkumar that he would lodge a cheating complaint against him with the police.

Consequently, Duraipandian went to the tar plant to get back his money where the accused murdered him.

The case of man missing has been altered to murder. The case is likely to be transferred to Virudhunagar district police for further investigation.