Bengaluru Man Killed by Friends After Drinking Session Injury to Avoid Medical Costs
In a disturbing incident from Bengaluru, a 26-year-old daily-wage labourer was allegedly murdered by his own friends after he suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a New Year drinking session. The accused, fearing exorbitant medical bills and potential legal consequences, took the extreme step of ending his life and disposing of his body in a well.
Gruesome Discovery After Two Weeks
Vinod Kumar, a resident of Kalyanapura village in Magadi taluk, had been missing since January 1, 2026. His disappearance triggered a frantic search by both his family and the police. The breakthrough came on January 17 when villagers in Vajarahalli, under the jurisdiction of the Kudur police station in Bengaluru South district, noticed something suspicious in a local well.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered Vinod's body, tragically tied to a stone with wire and submerged in the well. The grim find marked the end of a 16-day mystery surrounding his whereabouts.
The Fateful New Year Celebration
According to police officials, the sequence of events began on the afternoon of January 1. Vinod, along with his friends Sudeep (19), a construction worker, and Prajwal (19), a car driver, ventured to an agricultural farm to celebrate the New Year. The trio consumed alcohol, and at some point, the accused allegedly encouraged Vinod to climb a coconut tree to pluck tender coconuts.
The intention was to mix tender coconut water with their liquor. However, tragedy struck when Vinod lost his balance and fell from a height of approximately 30 feet. The fall resulted in a serious spinal cord injury, leaving him in immense pain and distress.
Panic Leads to a Heinous Decision
"As Vinod screamed in pain, the accused panicked," explained a police officer involved in the case. Initially, the friends considered taking him home for help. However, their fear quickly escalated. They worried that villagers would question them about the incident, and more significantly, they dreaded the financial burden of Vinod's medical treatment.
The officer elaborated, "They feared the cost of his medical treatment would run into several lakhs of rupees." This fear of responsibility, both financial and legal, allegedly drove them to a horrific alternative.
Murder and Concealment of Evidence
To evade these perceived consequences, the accused allegedly carried the injured Vinod to a secluded area near Vajarahalli. There, they drowned him in a lake. Later that same evening, in a further attempt to conceal their crime, they retrieved his body, secured it to a stone with wire, and dumped it into the well where it was eventually discovered.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The investigation gained momentum after Vinod's grandfather filed a formal missing-person complaint on January 2. While police analyzed CCTV footage from the area, no significant leads initially emerged. Vinod's parents, who reside in Bengaluru city, separately searched for him there, suspecting he might have traveled to the urban center.
The crucial break came when investigators learned that Vinod was last seen with Sudeep and Prajwal. Both young men were detained for questioning. During interrogation, they reportedly confessed to the murder, citing their fear of medical expenses and legal repercussions as the primary motive.
The two accused were formally arrested on January 18, 2026, and have been remanded to police custody for further investigation into this chilling case of betrayal and violence.
