The Kozhikode car tragedy in Perambra-Cheruvannur has taken a dramatic turn with police confirming that pregnant Sona bought petrol and carried it into the car before the fire that killed her. CCTV footage shows Sona purchasing petrol alone at a pump in Naduvannur at 7:25 PM on the day of the incident, hiding it in her bag before getting into the back seat of the car driven by her husband Rajinlal.

Police have officially stated that Rajinlal has no role in the incident and the investigation is moving toward closing the case against him. The forensic report confirms petrol residue on Sona’s body, and the fire originated from the rear seat where she was sitting. The engine and fuel pipes of the car showed no defects, ruling out accidental fire.

The couple, who had a love marriage in 2023 despite opposition from both families, was facing severe marital discord. Sona suspected Rajinlal was having an affair with another woman. The situation worsened when Rajinlal demanded a DNA test for her pregnancy, pushing Sona into deep mental distress.

Previously, when Rajinlal tried to call off the wedding, Sona had attempted suicide at Vadakara railway station. They eventually married after police mediation. On the day of the incident, Sona spent the afternoon at her aunt’s house. During an evening shopping trip with her cousin, she secretly bought petrol from a pump.

Upon returning to the car, Sona moved to the back seat after an argument with Rajinlal. When Rajinlal noticed the smell of petrol and asked about it, the fire broke out instantly. Rajinlal, who sustained 65 percent burns primarily on his back, managed to open the car locks and escape but could not save Sona.

Police are exploring two possibilities: that Sona intended only to scare Rajinlal to prevent him from leaving her, and the fire accidentally erupted when she struck a match, or that she deliberately set herself and her husband on fire as revenge for his betrayal and mental torture. Forensic experts suggest the petrol vapor inside the car would have ignited within seconds, leaving no time for Sona to reconsider.

Sona’s family continues to reject the police findings, insisting it was a murder planned by Rajinlal. They have handed over to police Sona’s revelation to her cousin moments before her death, where she broke down saying she was being cheated on again and that Rajinlal had a new relationship with another woman.

Police are now examining call logs and chat records from both phones with the help of the cyber cell to determine the complete sequence of events. Psychiatric experts may also be consulted to assess whether Sona exhibited borderline personality traits, given her history of emotional blackmail and suicide threats.