Auto driver, 4 friends arrested for rowdy-sheeter’s murder

Bengaluru: A gang of five persons was arrested for allegedly murdering a 38-year-old rowdy-sheeter by smashing his head with a stone outside his residence near Uttarahalli on Friday night.
The deceased, Chandramouli alias Chandru S, was a resident of Ravugodlu village. The accused are Mani alias Manu, 32, Lokesh alias Venkatesh, 27, Vinay K, 22, Maruti M, 22, and Ananda, 20, all from the same village.While Mani is an autorickshaw driver, the others drive cabs and luggage vehicles for a living. The main accused, Mani, nursed enmity against Chandru as the latter had allegedly chopped off his tongue last year. Adamant on seeking revenge, he killed Chandru with the help of four of his friends.
According to police, Chandru cut Mani’s tongue in their village on October 27, 2021 over a petty dispute and was arrested. Mani belongs to an SC community. Initially, the court denied bail to Chandru taking note of the serious allegations against him and after going through Mani’s medical reports. The prosecution had produced the reports and photographs of Mani’s tongue. However, Chandru got bail on April 6. According to police, Mani and the others barged into Chandru’s house around 8pm on Friday and dragged him out. The gang allegedly assaulted him with wooden logs. Mani took a stone and the others held Chandru tightly. Mani smashed Chandru’s head, killing him on the spot.
Police said on October 27, 2021, Chandru hired Mani’s auto and went near a temple in Somanahalli. Later, Chandru took him to his house and then to the terrace, where three of his friends were present. They objected to Mani abusing one of them and assaulting him. With his friends holding Mani, Chandru cut his tongue.