A 28-year-old man was allegedly murdered following a dispute over his inter-caste marriage in Karnataka’s Haveri district, and police arrested two key suspects in connection with the killing. Puneeth Kumar, who was married to a woman from another caste, was married in 2024 in a registered marriage, the complaint and preliminary facts of the case suggest.
The incident took place in Kodiyal Hosapete village in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district. The accused allegedly assaulted Puneeth Kumar, killed him, and threw his body into the Tungabhadra River. There are seven people named in the complaint and two principal accused have been arrested.
An Inter-Caste Marriage Led to Dispute
According to the complaint, Puneeth Kumar had fallen in love with Akshata, and the couple registered their marriage in 2024. However, Akshata's family opposed the marriage.
The marriage was reportedly strained between the two families. Akshata later filed a divorce petition against Puneeth Kumar as she was under pressure from her family, the complaint says.
Police are investigating whether the marriage dispute was the motive behind the alleged murder.
Argument During Volleyball Game
The events leading up to Puneeth Kumar’s disappearance reportedly began on September 7 when he was playing volleyball in Kodiyal Hosapete village.
During the game, Akshata’s brother Abhishek Goneppanavar and another man named Abhishek Reddy allegedly confronted Puneeth Kumar about his relationship and marriage with Akshata.
The two reportedly assaulted him and threatened him over his marriage to a woman from another caste. The complaint stated that the accused warned Puneeth Kumar that they would deal with him later.
Puneeth Kumar left his house later that night and went missing.
Body Found 13 Days After Disappearance
According to the case details, the accused allegedly called Puneeth Kumar to another location, where he was attacked with weapons and allegedly killed. His body was then thrown into the Tungabhadra River.
Almost 13 days after his disappearance, an unidentified male body was found near the Tungabhadra River close to Guttur in Harihar taluk on September 20.
The condition of the body made identification difficult. Some parts of the body had been damaged or eaten by aquatic animals.
But clothes found near the body helped investigators establish a possible connection with Puneeth Kumar.
Clothes Helped Family Identify Victim
A red-and-blue checked shirt was found around five metres away from the body, while a black Bermuda was found approximately one metre away.
Puneeth Kumar’s family members had identified the clothes as those he had been wearing when he left home on the night of September 7.
After finding him, the officers followed up on his disappearance and suspected murder.
Two Key Suspects Arrested
Kumarapattanam police have launched an investigation to trace those who were involved in the incident, the report said. The investigators examined the circumstances surrounding Puneeth Kumar’s disappearance, the dispute over his marriage, and the discovery of the body by the river.
Police have now arrested two key suspects identified as Abhishek Goneppanavar and Abhishek Reddy. Seven people have filed a complaint against them, our source said.
The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events, the involvement of other individuals named in the complaint, and the circumstances surrounding Puneeth Kumar’s death.
We also know that conflicts between inter-caste relationships and marriages can have adverse effects on the lives of families. But the police investigation and judicial process are still in progress, and the charges against the accused are still being made.
As the investigation continues, more evidence will be gathered—statements from witnesses and other material evidence will come to light. Kumarapattanam police are investigating the alleged killing and how Puneeth Kumar’s body was disposed of in the Tungabhadra River.
