Dharwad: In a chilling case of alleged contract killing disguised as a road accident, police in Dharwad have arrested four persons, including the victim’s husband, for the murder of a 43-year-old woman on the outskirts of the city.
The incident, which initially appeared to be a hit-and-run case, took a dramatic turn after fresh evidence and a complaint by the victim’s father prompted a deeper probe.
The victim, Lalita Hattaragi, a resident of Somapur village in Dharwad taluk, was killed on February 26 around 12 noon on the Dharwad–Savadatti Road. She was reportedly struck by an unidentified vehicle and died on the spot.
Based on preliminary information, police had registered a case of accidental death at the Dharwad Rural Police Station. However, Lalita’s father raised suspicions, alleging that his daughter’s death was not accidental but a premeditated murder.
Acting on his complaint, police launched a detailed investigation. A major breakthrough came when footage from a dashboard camera installed in a bus travelling behind the suspected vehicle surfaced. The video clearly captured a Mahindra Thar deliberately ramming into Lalita from behind as she walked along the roadside.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Lalita’s husband, Uday Hattaragi of Narendra village, was the alleged mastermind behind the crime. Police said Uday had reportedly hired three associates — Nagappa Padekal, Abhishek Varagannavar and Nagaraj Uppin — to execute the murder. He is said to have paid Rs 40 lakh as supari to eliminate his wife.
The couple, married since 2000, had been facing marital discord for nearly a decade. Lalita had moved court seeking separation, and the case was reportedly in its final stages. During the proceedings, she had sought two acres of land as settlement, which Uday allegedly refused to provide.
On the day of the incident, Uday reportedly called Lalita to Aminabhavi village, claiming he wanted to talk. As she walked along the roadside near the designated spot, the hired assailants allegedly ran her over with the Thar SUV.
All four accused have been arrested, and the vehicle used in the crime has been seized. A murder case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
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