Kamalakara Bhat was, for years now, a name and symbol that meant divine intervention. Operating out of the city's upscale offices and constantly appearing on TV to predict the fate of others, few could have prophesied his own ruin. Following his arrest in connection with a brutal murder of a close associate, the startling secrets of his way from street to multi-crore empire have finally come out.
The Peanut Seller: A Humble Start
Long before he adopted silk robes and gold-rimmed glasses, Kamalakara Bhat had been living in extreme poverty in a small village in coastal Karnataka. As reported by police and old acquaintances:
Street Vending: Bhat first came to Bengaluru in the late 1990s with no assets. To give an early start, he started off selling peanuts and snacks on the sidewalks of crowded urban centers like Jayanagar and JP Nagar.
The Spiritual Pivot: After being impressed by the growing demand for spiritual guidance in a tech city as he grew, Bhat reportedly observed priests who were in their own time present. He had no formal education in vedic but spoke and understood well about the psychology people go through.
The ascent of a Millionaire "Guru"
By the mid-2010s, Bhat had rebranded himself. The shift from streets to a tiny tent and up to a small cabin and eventually to a massive bungalow.
- Television Stardom: He appeared regularly on Kannada news channels on morning “Horoscope” slots. His “remedies” for financial and marital woes drew thousands of desperate followers.
- The Empire: At the time of his arrest, Bhat’s net worth was expected to be in the tens of crores, including luxury property in Bengaluru, multimillion-dollar cars, and a huge network of powerful clients, including politicians and real estate moguls.
The Murder That Uncovered It all
The veneer of sanctity came apart in early 2026 when Bengaluru police investigated the killing of Chandru, a man suspected of overseeing Bhat’s “under-the-table” transactions.
The Investigation Revealed:
- Money Matters: Chandru reportedly started blackmailing Bhat, threatening to let Bhat know that the astrologer’s "miracle cures" were a ruse as well as how he was running huge land-grabbing scams.
- The Hit: Police say Bhat, worried about how his fraudulent past and illegal assets would be uncovered, hired contract killers to “eliminate the problem.”
- The Arrest: With the help of call data records (CDR) and CCTV, the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB), followed the killers to the astrologer.
Key Intelligence That Was Shed in the Interrogation
Under his arrest, some shadowy secrets have reportedly emerged:
- Fake Credentials: Investigators revealed no evidence on his background that Bhat holds any formal degree in astrology or Sanskrit from recognized universities.
- The “Mule” Accounts: Bhat purportedly utilized the bank accounts of his poor relatives from his village to park “black money” raised from desperate clients demanding “Vastu” redress.
- Political Connections: Police are currently looking into a list of high-profile names listed in his diary claiming the man was a go-between in multiple contested land deals after using his “divine” influence.
A Lesson in Deception
Kamalakara Bhat’s downfall had his followers in shock and sparked a broader debate in Karnataka about the absence of regulation of “celebrity astrologers.” Bhat is now looking at a future behind bars, the law coming running after a man who believed fate could keep him one step ahead of the flow of karma.
