The chilling case of murder in Averaguppa, Siddapur, has turned more sinister as the surviving victim and husband of the primary accused, Mahesh Naik, has made explosive confessions. Mahesh spoke from his hospital bed at Meggan District Hospital in Shimoga, describing a pattern of adultery, digital deception and murderous conspiracy that resulted in the death of his brother, Vasanth Naik. Mahesh, who was on acute treatment for stab wounds, called his wife Suchitra (A1) a "manipulator," one who had committed various illegal acts long before her association with the controversial astrologer Kamalakar Bhat Guruji.
A History of Deceit and Facebook Affairs
Mahesh, who had to stay in a hotel in Bengaluru to feed his family, said that he had been married to Suchitra for 15 years. Due to his job, he was limited to returning to Siddapur once every two or three months. His charge is that Suchitra took advantage of his absence to form connections with a number of men on social media. “I found out she was using Facebook to stay in constant contact with a guy named Deepu,” Mahesh told reporters. “When I confronted her, she didn’t feel any remorse, instead, she’d picked a fight. Back then, I said nothing for the sake of our children, my family’s honour – I guessed she’d change her ‘dog-like nature’, but I was wrong.”
The “Guruji” Tie and a Daughter’s Despair
Five months ago, Suchitra, along with their two daughters, reportedly moved to Shimoga to live with the astrologer Kamalakar Bhat. Mahesh said it was unbearable for their eldest daughter. My daughter took the time to relay messages to me about Suchitra’s behavior with the Guruji. She panicked and said to me, “I can’t stay with my mom anymore. Please come take me, or I will end my life.” As this plea became desperate, the daughter fled to Siddapur, where she lodged a formal police complaint against her own mother and the astrologer.
The Night of the Ambush
The complaint served as the catalyst for the violence. On the night of the incident, Suchitra was brought to Averaguppa not to reconcile, but instead, to “settle scores.” She came not alone; Kamalakar Bhat accompanied her and five unnamed “rowdies” (henchmen). “She brought goons to kill us,” Mahesh said. “They attacked me, brother Vasanth and a friend of mine with knives. They were out to stifle us for bringing our complaint.” While Vasanth Naik was dying on the way to the hospital from excessive bleeding, Mahesh’s buddy remains critically ill at a private hospital in Shimoga.
Demand for Justice
Mahesh has called on police to not only view this as a mere domestic dispute but also as a coordinated contract killing organised by his wife and Guruji. Suchitra has played a “double game,” he claims posing as a victim publicly while concealing multiple relationships and employing criminals to attack her own family. To reinforce a case of criminal conspiracy, Siddapur police say they are examining these additional allegations of Suchitra’s previous interactions on social media. Meanwhile, residents around the village are shocked at the "Nawarangi" (multi-faced) deception claimed by her grieving husband.
