A 26-year-old man was allegedly murdered by his younger brother with the help of a relative over a property dispute, and the accused attempted to make the crime appear as a motorcycle accident. The incident came to light on Saturday night under the jurisdiction of the Arasikere police station in Harapanahalli taluk of Vijayanagara district.
The deceased was identified as Marulasiddesh (26), a resident of Hagarishiranahalli village. Police arrested his younger brother Patrigouda (24) and their relative Uttangi Narappa (29) of Kadabagere village in connection with the murder.
According to the complaint filed by the deceased’s mother, Shantamma, an anganwadi worker, Marulasiddesh was handling the family’s household responsibilities, farmland and tractor. Patrigouda, who was reportedly addicted to alcohol, had been quarrelling with the family for several days, demanding his share of the property and expressing his intention to leave for Bengaluru for work.
On the afternoon of March 13, Patrigouda reportedly argued with the family again over the property issue and left home saying he would go to Bengaluru if he was not given his share. Later, Marulasiddesh left on his motorcycle along with Narappa to look for him.
Around 1am, a distant relative, Jayappa, informed Shantamma that Marulasiddesh had died in a motorcycle accident near Hosahalli Cross close to Hiremegalagere. However, when she reached the Arasikere government hospital, she noticed injuries on her son’s body and found that Patrigouda and Narappa, who were said to have been travelling with him on the same motorcycle, had no injuries.
Suspecting foul play, she lodged a complaint with the police. During the investigation, police found that the accused had allegedly suffocated Marulasiddesh with a towel and hit him with a stone before attempting to pass off the murder as a road accident.
A team led by Arasikere police station PSI Vijayakrishna investigated the case and arrested the accused within 24 hours. SP S. Jahnavi, DSP Santosh Chavan and CPI Mahantesh Sajjan also visited the spot and inspected the scene. A case has been registered at the Arasikere police station.