Madikeri: Madhu, the prime accused in the murder of woman advocate Jyothi was arrested by the Mahalakshmi Layout police in Madikeri on Monday night.

The 28-year-old accused, a BMTC bus conductor, was absconding after stabbing Jyothi, 26, to death near Anjaneya Temple at Mahalakshmi Layout second main road on Saturday evening, December 17. The police, on a tip-off managed to nab Madhu in coordination with the local police.

Acording to police sources Madhu has confessed that he murdered Jyothi, as she was avoiding him and had turned down his repeated proposals to marry him. The police had earlier arrested Madhu’s friend Shivaramu, who was caught by the public soon after the incident. Madhu escaped in an autorickshaw and had gone to Mysuru Road, from where he reportedly took a bus to Madikeri.

“Madhu will be produced before the magistrate. We will seek his police custody as we need to interrogate him,” said DCP (North) Labhu Ram.

According to an official, Jyothi was also in love with Madhu earlier. “As her parents learnt about it, they got her married to another man six years ago. However, the marriage failed and ended in divorce. Jyothi was in touch with Madhu and had reportedly told him they will get married once they both find good jobs. But after she started legal practice, she started avoiding him. This left Madhu frustrated and he decided to murder her,” said the official.