Cops crack home-alone woman's murder case

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district police on Thursday cracked a case in which a home maker was hacked to death for gain reported at Subramanya police station limits on April 16.

A special police team set up under C B Ryshyanth, assistant superintendent of police, Puttur sub-division arrested Karunkar, 52, and his wife Prema for murdering Vedavathi, 42, wife of Jayaram Gowda at Nalkuru village in Sullia taluk.

Superintendent of police Bhushan G Borase announcing the breakthrough in the case said that the murder took place sometime between 11.30am and 3.30pm on April 16 when Jayaram Gowda was not at home. Incidentally, since Vedavathi knew Karunkar who was a distant relative of Jayaram, allowed him inside their house where the latter is said to have urged her to lend money. Karunakar demanded money to pay debts to the tune of Rs 30 lakh accrued due to his wayward lifestyle.

The SP said the police investigated the case from various angles and based on evidence gleaned by fingerprint, forensic science laboratory (FSL) and medical officers from forensic science medicine department of K S Hegde Medical Academy, were able to gradually zero in on Karunakar. The task of police was not made any easy by Karunkar who attempted to clean up the crime scene after attacking Vedavathi on her head with a sickle, resulting in her death.

Bhushan said that Prema has been charged for destroying the evidence and for harbouring the accused. "She was aware of the role Karunakar played in the murder but did not inform the police and also assisted him in destroying the evidence," the SP said. The police team recovered the gold jewellery that Karunkar took from the bedroom of Jayarama Gowda's house after murdering her, SP said.

"We will produce Prema before the court after questioning her about the case," he added. C B Vedamurthy, additional superintendent of police, Ryshyanth and team members were present.


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