Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) Karnataka Police on Wednesday cracked the sensational suitcase murder case reported on the outskirts of Bengaluru and nabbed the 21‑year‑old accused, a resident of Challaghatta.
The accused has been identified as Gagan. South West Division Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anita Haddannavar stated that a special team was formed to crack the case and successfully tracked the identity of the deceased elderly woman, whose body was found in a decomposed state, before apprehending the accused within 24 hours.
She further said police are still collecting scientific evidence and analysing CCTV footage, and that the investigation is ongoing. Further details are awaited.
According to police sources, the accused is a neighbour of the deceased and was allegedly involved in gambling and had incurred heavy debts. In a bid to obtain money, he allegedly hacked the victim to death, robbed her of her gold jewellery, stuffed her body into a suitcase and dumped it in the lake.
The exact sequence of events leading up to the murder is yet to be ascertained. The DCP said the matter remains under investigation.
The victim has been identified as 61‑year‑old Jayamma of Challaghatta. Her body was found stuffed inside a suitcase recovered from Ramohalli Lake, which falls under the jurisdiction of Kumbalgodu Police Station in Bengaluru’s South West Division, on Tuesday.
According to police, local residents noticed a suitcase floating in the lake and alerted authorities. A police team rushed to the spot and retrieved the suitcase, only to discover the body of a woman inside. Preliminary investigations indicated that the body may have been dumped in the lake two to three days earlier.
Subsequent inquiries helped police identify the deceased as Jayamma. Her son, Jaishankar, had lodged a missing person complaint on July 16 after she failed to return home.
In his complaint, Jaishankar stated that Jayamma lived with his family in Challaghatta, while his father, Bore Gowda, resided separately in Rajajinagar. He told police that Jayamma had left the house at around 3.30 p.m. on July 16 and never returned. Despite extensive searches, the family was unable to trace her and subsequently approached the police.
Senior police officers, including DCP Anita Haddannavar, visited the scene following the recovery of the body.
Police examined Jayamma’s recent movements, her contacts and possible motives behind the murder. Investigators also analysed forensic evidence and CCTV footage from areas she is believed to have visited before she went missing.
–IANS
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