Thiruvananthapuram: Police in Kerala are on the hunt for the body of a non-resident Indian (NRI) believed to have been murdered by his own son, most likely on Wednesday or Thursday last week.

Divers searched the bed of the Arattupuzha river in Aranmula, policemen searched a warehouse in the family’s building complex in Chengannur, and a dog squad was also pressed into service.

The case pertains to the disappearance of a US-based NRI from Chengannur in Kottayam district, Joy V. John (68). John had gone from Chengannur to Thiruvananthapuram with his youngest son, Sherin John, last Wednesday, apparently to fix a fault in their car.

The senior John’s wife, Mariamma, had spoken to both of them later that day, but afterwards, their phones were switched off. On Thursday morning, Sherin John called his mother and said he had made a “mistake”. Mariamma then alerted the police, who mounted a search for him using mobile tower tracking. Police suspect that father and son got into a brawl during their journey, probably over the division of property, and that Sherin John had shot and killed his father. Sherin is believed to have taken his father’s body to the family-owned garage, burnt it and dumped it in the river.

On Saturday, police swooped down on Sherin John at a lodge in Kottayam and took him into custody.

At the warehouse, police found blood stains on the walls and clues that indicated a fire had been made.

Sherin’s statements, however, were contradictory on Saturday and Sunday. Based on his statements, police searched for the body in the Arattupuzha river and at other places but could not recover John’s body.

Sherin reportedly told the police that a brawl took place between him and his father in the car, leading to the shoot-out, but police do not believe that statement. They suspect a premeditated act that may have been committed in the warehouse.

A large crowd gathered in front of the building housing the warehouse as police carried out an investigation. A dog squad and fingerprint experts were also pressed into service. Police found pieces of flesh and bloodstained slippers in the warehouse.

The Johns have two other children based in the US.