Bengaluru Police Uncover Gruesome Triple Murder After Son's Deception Fails
In a chilling turn of events at the Tilaknagar police station in Bengaluru, what began as a routine missing person investigation swiftly transformed into a harrowing homicide case. The police were initially approached by Akshay BJ, a 27-year-old man, who reported that his parents and sister had vanished under suspicious circumstances.
The Initial Complaint and Suspicious Behavior
Akshay claimed that his father, Bheemraj H, mother Jayalakshmi J, and sister Amrita had traveled to the city on January 28 to visit Jayadeva Hospital due to his father's health issues. To bolster his story, he presented photos on his mobile phone, allegedly sent by his family from near the hospital. "My sister told me that Jayadeva hospital staff had seized her mobile for recording inside the hospital," Akshay asserted, adding a layer of detail to his narrative.
However, police officials, led by Inspector Vishwanath K, grew increasingly skeptical. Akshay's statements were contradictory, and he appeared to be deliberately misleading investigators whenever they probed for clarity. Despite deploying over 15 personnel to scour hospitals like Nimhans and Victoria and review CCTV footage, no trace of the family was found. All their mobile phones remained switched off, deepening the mystery.
The Critical Mistake That Exposed the Truth
The breakthrough came on the morning of January 30, when Akshay, under police supervision, stepped out for a tea break. In a calculated move, he switched on his sister's mobile phone to create the illusion that the family was still in Bengaluru. This backfired catastrophically when he forgot to silence the device. Back at the station, a constable dialed the sister's number, and the ringtone echoed from Akshay's trouser pocket, shattering his facade.
Joint Commissioner of Police-East, Ramesh Banoth, recounted, "The ringtone changed the entire investigation. Officials sensed something amiss from the start, but this was the definitive clue." A search of Akshay revealed the SIM cards of his 'missing' parents and sister, confirming police suspicions. Under intense questioning, Akshay broke down and confessed to one of the most brutal crimes the force had encountered.
Confession Reveals Horrific Details and Motive
Akshay admitted to murdering his family members in their Kottur residence in Vijayanagar district. He cited caste-related tensions as the motive, claiming his sister wished to marry outside their caste with their parents' support. In a premeditated act, he slit their throats with an axe blade over two days, beginning with his mother on January 26. He then concealed the bodies under a bedsheet before traveling to Bengaluru to stage an alibi.
To cover his tracks, Akshay intentionally left his own phone at home and carried the victims' mobiles. He visited Jayadeva Hospital to take photos, which he later used to fabricate evidence. Upon returning home, he dug a 10-foot-deep pit using a drilling machine, keeping the TV volume high to mask the noise from neighbors. After burying the bodies, he sought advice from his uncle Vasanth, who suggested filing a missing person complaint to misdirect the police.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
Following the confession, Tilaknagar police alerted their Vijayanagar counterparts, who recovered the bodies from the pit in a video-recorded operation. Akshay was arrested and placed in 10-day police custody for further interrogation, while his uncle Vasanth was handed over to judicial custody for aiding in evidence destruction.
Deputy Commissioner of Police-South East, Mohammad Sujeetha, emphasized, "Though Akshay cited personal reasons, we suspect other motives and are investigating all angles." Authorities are also probing financial aspects, as Bheemaraj had recently sold a property for Rs 1.2 crore, with Akshay allegedly spending part of the funds without his father's knowledge.
This case underscores the diligence of Bengaluru police in unraveling complex crimes through meticulous investigation and technological clues. As the legal process unfolds, it serves as a grim reminder of the depths of familial conflict and the relentless pursuit of justice in urban India.
