Madikeri: The district crime branch police have cracked the sensational murder case of Ranju Poovaiah that took place at Iggodlu village in Madapur limits in the early hours of morning on December 23 by nabbing all the three accused. the deceased’s wife’s illicit affair with one of the accused had led to the killing.

Ranju Poovaiah’s wife Shanti (36), Mandepanda Rajesh (40), Mandepanda Ashok, both related to each other and residents of Bembebellur village of Virajpet taluk were nabbed by the police.

Disclosing the details, Kodagu SP Rajendra Prasad said the involvement came in the open only after intense interrogation following their arrests.

Shanti developed a relationship with accused Rajesh on social networking website Facebook which later turned into a love affair. Accusing her husband of continuously harassing her and children in drunken stupor, Shanti requested Rajesh to get rid of her husband. Rajesh in turn, cited the necessity of Rs 1.5 Lakh in cash to execute the plot and later roped in his relative named Ashok for the purpose.

Accordingly, both rode on a bike and reached Iggodlu village, fully armed. When Ranju Poovaiah emerged out of his home at 5 AM in the morning of December 23, he was shot from close range using the cover of darkness. They fled the crime scene after ascertaining Ranju Poovaiah’s death.

Police also seized the two wheeler, SBBL gun and mobile phones employed in the murder.

Rajesh is already an accused in two murder cases in Virajpet rural police station limits whereas his accomplice Ashok has cases pending against him related to Arms Act in 2010 and for issuing death threats.

SP announced cash rewards to the police team and lauded its efforts in nabbing all the accused within a span of 10 days after the murder came to light.