Chikkaballapur police have successfully solved the murder of a 23-year-old woman within 24 hours of the crime. The victim, Pushpalatha, a resident of Kandavarapet in Chikkaballapur, was found dead at her home shortly after midnight on May 28. The police arrested her sister-in-law, Bhavya, and the latter's cousin, Lohith Kumar, for allegedly conspiring to kill her and staging the incident as a robbery.
Initial Account and Investigation
Initially, Bhavya, the twin sister of Pushpalatha's husband Bharath, told police that an unidentified intruder had entered the house, sprayed pepper spray on her, rendered her unconscious, and slit Pushpalatha's throat before fleeing with gold ornaments. However, the investigation took a dramatic turn when forensic examination and the autopsy report raised doubts about Bhavya's account. There were no signs of forced entry into the house, and the injury on the victim's throat was found to be superficial, contradicting the claim of a throat-slitting murder.
Confession and Motive
According to Superintendent of Police Kushal Chousky, sustained interrogation led Bhavya to confess to the crime. Bhavya had been allegedly blackmailed by Lohith Kumar of Hoskote, who possessed private videos and photographs of her and had already extorted Rs 6 lakh. To meet his escalating demands, Bhavya allegedly plotted to rob Pushpalatha. Taking advantage of the family's absence, she left the door open for Lohith, who allegedly smothered Pushpalatha with a pillow before making a small cut on her throat to mimic a murder-for-gain case and fled with her jewellery.
Arrests and Further Investigation
Police have arrested Bhavya and Lohith Kumar and are investigating whether other family members were involved. The swift resolution of the case highlights the effectiveness of forensic evidence and sustained interrogation in cracking complex crimes.
