In K'buragi, shades of Renukaswamy murder, Man killed by ex-lover and her accomplices

NT Correspondent

Kalaburagi: In a chilling crime that mirrors the recent Renu kaswamy murder case involving actor Darshan, Kalaburagi police have uncovered a brutal murder allegedly carried out by a woman and her as sociates over a personal grudge. Raghavendra Nayak (39), a hotel worker and resident of Ganesh Nagar, was kidnapped and murdered on March 12 by his former partner Ashwini alias Tanu (26) and her associates—Gururaj Sheshappa Nelogi (36) and Lakshmikant Malipatil (28).

The accused claimed Raghavendra was harassing Ashwini following the end of their relationship. Kalaburagi Police Com missioner Dr. Sharanappa S.D., addressing a press conference on Monday, said the murder was un covered during a missing person investigation launched in late May. Raghavendra’s wife, Surekha Nayak, had filed the complaint at Station Bazaar Police Station after her husband, known to leave home intermittently, failed to return for over two months.

Investigations revealed a sinister plot: Ashwini, who was in a live-in relationship with Raghavendra, had since grown close to Guru raj. After Raghavendra objected to their relationship, Ashwini informed Gururaj, triggering the fatal attack. On March 12, the trio ab ducted Raghavendra from a lodge near the city’s super market, forced him into a vehicle, and took him to a cremation ground in Krishna Nagar.

There, Ashwini allegedly struck him on the head before Gururaj and Lakshmikant beat him to death with sticks and blunt weapons. The accused then dis posed of the body by dumping it off a bridge into the Krishna River near Shakti Nagar in Raichur district.

The body was later recovered and initially registered as an unnatural death. Forensic confirmation and interrogation led police to link the body to the missing man. All three accused were arrested on Saturday and are in police custody. “This is a case of cold blooded murder over personal vengeance. We will ensure all those involved are brought to justice,” said Commissioner Dr. Sharanappa.