Haveri: In a shocking revelation, the Haveri district police have cracked the mysterious death of a farmer that initially appeared to be a road accident. The investigation has revealed that it was a cold-blooded murder committed for property, leading to the arrest of four accused by Rattihalli police.
The deceased has been identified as Basavaraj Puttannavar (40), a farmer from Rattihalli who lived alone after the demise of his parents and brother. He had no wife or children. The accused have been identified as Raghavendra Malagondar, Siddanagouda Karegowdar alias Halageri, Praveen, and Malatesh.
According to police, on September 27, Basavaraj’s body was found by the roadside near Chikkayadachi road in Rattihalli, initially assumed to be the result of an accident. However, as the investigation progressed, police found evidence suggesting foul play.
“Preliminary inquiry revealed that the accused murdered Basavaraj to usurp his 12-acre agricultural land,” an investigating officer said.
Raghavendra, one of the accused, was Basavaraj’s neighbor and had built a close connection with him. Basavaraj was reportedly addicted to alcohol, and Raghavendra often supplied him liquor. Taking advantage of this, he conspired with others to take over Basavaraj’s land.
Police sources said the accused had earlier taken Basavaraj to the sub-registrar’s office after intoxicating him and managed to register a will document in their names. Later, they decided to eliminate him to claim ownership.
“On the night of September 27, the accused got Basavaraj drunk and made him sit by the roadside. Then, driving a car at around 80 kmph, they deliberately ran him over, killing him instantly,” the police said.
The murder was staged as a road accident, and one of Basavaraj’s distant relatives, Kumar, filed a complaint believing it to be accidental. But during further investigation, forensic and circumstantial evidence revealed inconsistencies.
“After detailed examination of the spot and technical data, it became clear that the case was not an accident but a planned murder,” the officer added.
All four accused have been taken into custody and are being interrogated. The police are now verifying the authenticity of the forged will and tracing any additional property transactions linked to the accused.
The incident has shocked the local farming community in Haveri district, with residents demanding strict punishment for those who killed a helpless farmer out of greed.
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