BENGALURU: A 45-year-old businessman who was found dead on Sunday on the railway track in Ramanagara district in a suspected suicide case is considered the prime suspect in the murder of a 40-year-old guest lecturer in Doddaballapura, police said on Tuesday.
Inspector Sadiq Pasha of Doddaballapura Rural Police Station said the lecturer was found dead inside the charred wreckage of a car at an isolated place near Pashiti Industrial Area on May 2.
A day later, the businessman’s body was found on the railway track near Bidadi, the officer added. “After verification, it was confirmed that he was the suspect in the murder,” Pasha said.
Investigators said they suspected the killing stemmed from a personal dispute, adding that the investigation revealed that the lecturer and the businessman were having an extramarital affair with each other.
They added that the sequence of events indicates a premeditated crime. “It turned out that he had borrowed the car earlier, due to a medical emergency,” Pasha said.
Investigators said tensions arose after the man pressured the lecturer to marry him, which she refused. “Personal differences seem to be the primary motivation, but we are checking all angles,” Pasha said.
Police said the couple went on a long drive to Nandi Hills and surrounding areas before arriving at the isolated site where the charred wreckage was found.
The inspector added: “At first glance, it appears that the accused tried to mislead the investigators by setting the car on fire.” A case was registered based on a complaint filed by the lecturer’s husband. Police said further investigations are underway to determine the full sequence of events and collect more evidence.
