Bengaluru: More than a month after a decomposing body was discovered stuffed inside a sack in a BDA park in north Bengaluru, the Gangammagudi police have arrested a carpenter for allegedly murdering his friend during a drunken quarrel and then disposing of the body with the help of accomplices.
Details of the Accused and Victim
The accused, Ravindar Kumar, 30, is a native of Uttar Pradesh. The deceased, identified as Vidhya Prasad alias Vidhyabharathi, 45, also hailed from the same state. Prasad, a painter by profession, had arrived in Bengaluru two months ago in search of work and was staying with Kumar in a rented house in north Bengaluru.
Discovery of the Body
The case came to light on the morning of April 24 when a woman walking in Nisarga Layout noticed a suspicious sack in the park. She alerted her husband, who rushed to the spot and saw a human leg protruding from the sack. The couple immediately informed the police.
Investigation and Breakthrough
Investigators initially faced challenges in identifying the deceased. After extensive efforts, police reviewed footage from hundreds of CCTV cameras and spotted two individuals riding a scooter with a sack on the footrest. They later traced the husband of the deceased's younger sister, who identified the victim as Vidhya Prasad. As the investigation progressed, police tracked down Kumar in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur on May 20.
Confession and Arrest
Kumar confessed to the crime and revealed the involvement of two other accomplices, who remain at large. According to Kumar, on the night of April 20, the two friends got into a heated argument while under the influence of alcohol. During the quarrel, Kumar assaulted Prasad, repeatedly striking him on the stomach, chest, head, and back.
The next morning, Kumar noticed Prasad was feeling unwell. He went to a nearby medical store and told the shopkeeper that his friend was heavily intoxicated and vomiting, requesting tablets including painkillers. However, the shopkeeper refused and asked for a doctor's prescription. Later, in the early hours, Kumar and his accomplice spoke to Prasad before leaving for work.
In the afternoon, upon returning from work, Kumar and his associate found Prasad dead. Fearing arrest, they allegedly enlisted another accomplice and hatched a plan to dispose of the body.
Disposal of Body and Flight
That night, the trio allegedly stuffed the painter's body into a sack, transported it on a scooter, and dumped it inside the compound of the BDA park at Nisarga Layout before fleeing. The same night, they left the city by train.
Kumar was remanded to judicial custody on May 29, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other two accused.
