Doctor murdered for gold in Sirsi; friend arrested within 24 hours
Karwar ;In a shocking incident, a doctor who was preparing for his wedding was allegedly murdered by his own friend for gold in Sirsi. The accused has been arrested within 24 hours of the crime, police said on Sunday.
The victim has been identified as Dr Ramesh Kalagutkar (51), a well-known practitioner residing in the KHB Colony area. The accused, Shivamogga native Manjunath Pandurang Naik (68), is said to have committed the crime with the intention of stealing gold ornaments.
According to preliminary investigation, the accused was known to the victim and had visited him several times for medical treatment, which later developed into a personal friendship. Police said Dr Ramesh had even invited him home on multiple occasions, indicating a high level of trust between the two.
On April 20, ahead of his scheduled marriage, Dr Ramesh had reportedly retrieved gold ornaments from a bank and brought them home. The accused, who was present at the house, was shown the ornaments, further strengthening the suspicion that the murder was premeditated and driven by greed.
Investigators revealed that the crime took place late at night when the doctor was asleep. The accused allegedly attacked him with a weapon, causing fatal injuries. After committing the murder, he locked the house and fled the scene with the stolen gold.
The crime came to light when relatives and acquaintances grew suspicious after failing to contact the doctor. Upon entering the house, they found him lying dead, prompting immediate police intervention.
Acting swiftly, the Market Police in Sirsi launched an investigation and tracked down the accused within 24 hours. He was arrested along with the stolen gold ornaments, police confirmed.
Officials stated that further investigation is underway to determine if there were any accomplices or if the accused had planned the crime in advance. The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, raising concerns over trust and safety even among close acquaintances.
Police have registered a case and are continuing with detailed interrogation of the accused.
