Mangaluru: Police have successfully solved the murder case of a woman at Guthhigaru in Sullia taluk and arrested the accused on Wednesday, July 6.
Vedavathi (45), a resident of Mettinadka was found murdered on April 16 this year.
Karunakar (R) and Vedavathi
In this regard SP Bhushan G Borase, addressed a press meet in Mangaluru on July 7 and said that the police have recovered stolen gold ornaments worth Rs 2 lac from the accused, Karunakar.
Jayaram, a farmer and his wife Vedavathi lived along with a girl relative. On a day when Jayaram had left home, and knowing that Vedavathi was alone at home Jayaram had plotted to murder her.
On the day of the incident, Karunakar had parked his scooter at a distance from Vedavathi’s house and knocked at her house. Since Vedavathi knew Karunakar, she allowed him inside. Karunakar demanded monetary help from Vedavathi and on expressing her inability, he asked her to give some gold which was also refused. When Vedavathi went into the kitchen, Karunakar followed her and with a sickle and murdered her. Then Karunakar decamped with the gold before making sure that there was no evidence left behind.
The murder came to light when Vijith, a relative, visited the house and found Vedavathi lying dead in the kitchen and the ornaments on her missing.
When the police began investigation, they went clueless. Police questioned several people and also checked the call records of suspects. With the help of fingerprint and forensic experts, the crime spot was also inspected. Puttur police kept a close watch on Karunakar’s movements. A team comprising 10 experienced cops was formed and along with the help of Bengaluru cyber crime branch the accused was cornered and arrested.
Following the murder, two protests were held and the police were given a deadline till July 7 to nab the culprit, the SP said.
Karunakar who was the neighbour of Jayaram, ahd got admitted to a private hospital in Puttur to mislead the police.
The police made sure that on discharge, he does not escape from the hospital. They took custody of him soon after his discharge. On interrogation, he revealed the truth and the police concluded that he was the accused.
Karunakar was in debt of Rs. 30 lacs which he had borrowed and owed to a number of people, which was the cause to murder, SP Bhushan said.
Sources said that Karunakar had already mortgaged gold borrowed from Vedavathi. Vedavathi wanted Karunaker to return the jewellery, since the marriage of her close relative was fast approaching. Unable to return the gold to Vedavathi on time, he decided to murder her.
After Karunakar made sure that he had left no evidence, he also took away Vedavathi’s mobile phone and threw it away. After his arrest, he was taken to the spot for identification. Wife of Karunakar is also arrested for destroying evidence, as she had washed the clothes worn by Karunakar which had blood stains after she got to know about Vedavathi’s murder. It is suspected that she had hidden some of the gold in her house.
Karunakar was accused in a forgery case about five years ago, said DKSP Bhushan G Borase.
