Bengaluru double murder: Wife, lover kill husband; son strangled as witness
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A double murder case in Chikkabanavara, Bengaluru has taken a disturbing turn after police arrested Harini, the wife of the deceased, who allegedly conspired with her lover Vinay to kill her husband Abhinandan — and then strangled their own child, Yaduveer, to prevent him from revealing the crime. The murders were reported on Sunday, 17 August, with Harini taken into custody on Monday, 18 August.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to police, Harini allegedly called Vinay to her residence at around 11 pm the night before the murders. Together, they allegedly killed Abhinandan. Their child Yaduveer reportedly witnessed the killing. Fearing exposure, Harini allegedly strangled the child to death shortly after.
The accused then allegedly placed Abhinandan's body over the child's body in an apparent attempt to stage the scene as a murder-suicide or to shift blame onto the deceased husband.
How Investigators Cracked the Case
Police noticed inconsistencies at the crime scene during initial inspection. Investigators traced blood stains and found that Harini had allegedly washed blood-stained clothes and left them out to dry — a detail that raised suspicion. It was also established that she had switched off the CCTV cameras at the residence before the incident.
Harini was interrogated for nearly six hours, after which she reportedly confessed to killing both her husband and son, according to police.
Alleged Motive: Property Worth Crores
Investigators believe the primary motive was financial. Abhinandan, the only son of his parents, reportedly owned property worth crores of rupees, including a three-storey building in the Chikkabanavara locality. Police allege that Harini and Vinay conspired to kill him in order to gain control of the property.
Deputy Commissioner of Police N. Nagesh said the couple had a history of marital disputes and frequent quarrels. Harini had reportedly left the matrimonial home at one point, leaving behind a letter, but returned and resumed living with Abhinandan. The family had reportedly kept the estrangement private in hopes of reconciliation.
Family's Account and Vinay's Arrest
A family member, Jayamma, told police she had long harboured suspicions about Harini's conduct, noting that she frequently received calls. Police launched a manhunt for Vinay after the crime came to light and subsequently arrested him.
Further investigation is underway to establish the precise sequence of events. The case now stands as one of the more chilling instances of premeditated domestic crime in the city in recent memory.