In the sleepy village, Siddapur taluk: A dispute over an alleged illicit relationship turns deadly. A 41-year-old man was killed and two others grievously injured when a prominent local man ‘Guruji’ and his friends reportedly attacked a family. The deceased is named Vasanth Naik (41). The injured, Mahesh Naik and Kumar, are in intensive treatment at a hospital in Shivamogga.
The Backstory: A Divided Family
The scene of the tragedy was claimed for its extramarital affair between a woman called Suchitra (the major accused, A1) and Kamalakar Bhat Guruji (A4), an astrologer reportedly originally from Hemmanbail functioning out of Shivamogga. Police reports said Suchitra had resided at Guruji's house in Shivamogga with her two daughters.
He came to know of the illicit relationship, according to police details, and his own daughter was disturbed by the situation and alleged harassment by the two, leading to a flight by her daughter to her father, Mahesh Naik, who lives in Siddapur.
The Catalyst: A Police Complaint
After his daughter told the police of this, Mahesh Naik made a formal complaint against Kamalakar Bhat & Suchitra in January. Aghast by the legal maneuver, the accused resolved to take the family on. On the night of the episode, Kamalakar Bhat, Suchitra, her father Lokanath (A2) and a number of her hired henchmen showed up at Averaguppa in the Guruji’s vehicle.
The violence spilled over at Vasanth Naik (Mahesh's uncle) house where the daughter was hiding. The Violent Assault. The confrontation quickly escalated into violence. It was said that the Guruji's followers raised knives and assaulted Mahesh. His uncle Vasanth Naik and a neighbor named Kumar were stabbed multiple times when they rushed to help and calm the situation.
Vasanth Naik, suffering severe abdominal wounds, subsequently died while being taken to the hospital. Mahesh and Kumar were rushed to Meggan Hospital Shivamogga in critical condition.
Police Action and Arrests
In a report filed by Sandhya Naik, relative of the victim, Siddapur police action was soon taking place. We launched an extensive manhunt, and seven of them were rounded up; Kamalakar Bhat Guruji and Suchitra. The three suspects fled and were intercepted by the police in Shivamogga. Siddapur was the jurisdiction in which four suspects were taken into custody, the Guruji is among them.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) Deepak visited the crime scene on Tuesday, February 3; he attended to the investigation. "We have arrested the main accused and we are now interrogating the associates to find out fully how much of the conspiracy had taken place," the SP said. Cases are registered under sections related to murder (302 IPC/equivalent BNS sections), attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy. Evidence of Guruji's ruined vehicle has also been seized.
