The main accused in the murder and mutilation of two women in Kerala in a case of "human sacrifice" was a man who scoped out women on social media and lured them to the house of the killer couple.

Muhammad Shafi, a school dropout, was the "agent" who supplied the two women to the massage therapist couple, Bhagaval Singh and his wife Laila. Shafi was out on bail in a 2020 case involving a sexual assault on a 75-year-old woman.

Roselin disappeared in June, said the police, and Padma in September. They sold lottery tickets in Ernakulam.

Shafi found them on social media and had them come to the couple's house in Pathanamthitta. He had done so even in the past.

Shafi allegedly promised the victims money to act in a pornographic film. At the same time, he "advised" Bhagaval Singh and Laila to carry out a human sacrifice to end their financial troubles, the police said.

Shafi was "addicted to sexual perversion and delighted in cruelty", said Kochi Police Chief CH Nagaraju.

"Shafi committed acts of sexual perversion on the women. Shafi supplied women for sacrifice and cannibalism to clients," said the top cop.

Padma was strangled, beheaded and cut into 56 pieces by Shafi, the police said. The remains were kept in a bucket.

Roselin was strangled allegedly by Laila, and her breasts were cut off.