In a shocking case of fratricide from Karnataka's Shivamogga district, police have arrested a man for the alleged murder of his younger brother, a crime he managed to conceal for nearly three months. The accused, identified as Maltesh, confessed to killing his brother Ramachandra over suspicions of an illicit relationship with his wife.
The Grisly Crime and Deceptive Ploy
The incident dates back to August, when Ramachandra, a daily wage worker, suddenly went missing. His concerned mother, Gowramma, filed a missing person's complaint with the Soraba police. Despite their efforts, the police initially failed to trace him, leading family members to suspect foul play. Unbeknownst to them, the perpetrator was within their own family.
According to Shivamogga SP Mithun Kumar, the accused Maltesh executed a chilling plan. He lured his younger brother to a private farmhouse in Soraba, which he took care of for a Shivamogga-based businessman. Maltesh, who hailed from Haveri district and rarely visited his family home, told Ramachandra that a special puja had been arranged to resolve his marital problems.
Once at the isolated farmhouse, Maltesh tied Ramachandra's hands and legs. He then made his brother consume alcohol and subsequently strangled him to death. In a bid to hide his heinous act, Maltesh buried the body on the farm premises and later summoned other labourers to fill the pit, masking the grave.
The 90-Day Charade and Digital Breakthrough
What makes this case particularly macabre is the accused's audacious behaviour post the murder. For nearly 90 days, Maltesh pretended to be a grieving and concerned elder brother. He was in regular touch with the Soraba police, persistently seeking updates on the investigation into his "missing" brother's case. This act of innocence successfully threw the investigators off his scent for a significant period.
The breakthrough came when police, while meticulously gathering digital evidence, began to suspect Maltesh's role. Their suspicions coincided with a crucial revelation: Maltesh had confessed the murder to his wife. He had also warned his mother, telling her that Ramachandra's story is over and instructing her not to ask any further questions about him.
Arrest and Unearthing the Truth
Acting on the clues and evidence, the Soraba police moved swiftly to arrest Maltesh. Following his disclosure, the police exhumed the body from the farmhouse for a postmortem examination, confirming the brutal murder. SP Mithun Kumar stated that the arrest was made after concrete evidence was found against the accused.
Investigations revealed a history of tension between the brothers. Maltesh had discovered the alleged affair between his wife and Ramachandra. The matter had even reached village elders, who had reportedly warned Ramachandra about the relationship. Ultimately, this alleged betrayal drove Maltesh to plan and execute the cold-blooded murder, bringing a tragic end to a family dispute and leaving a mother to mourn the loss of one son at the hands of another.
