Northeast district police deputy chief V Saravanan said the widow and her suspected male suspects, aged between 15 and 30, were picked up separately from last night until early today.
Initial investigations revealed that those detained, including a school dropout, were linked to the death of M Sathiwill, 20, he said today.
Saravanan said the widow had three previous criminal records, including for murder, and had been on the police wanted list for house break-in and theft cases. She also tested positive for drugs.
One of the male suspects also had a criminal record.
“We are closing in on two men believed to have been involved in the case (murder) as they may still be in this state,” Saravanan said, adding that the suspects had been remanded for six days to facilitate investigations.
It was reported that Sathiwill’s body was found wrapped in bedsheets in a room of the unit by a female tenant at about 9.30am yesterday.
The deceased was said to have rented the room with his brother.
Initial police investigations revealed that the victim was beaten up by five people in a 16th floor corridor of the unit before being dragged into his room.
Sathiwill was also believed to have been bludgeoned as his face was swollen.