CCTV off, phone purged: Bengaluru cops probe killing of child who saw dad’s murder

BENGALURU: The double murder case in Chikkabanavara has taken a shocking turn, with police arresting 26-year-old Harini, who allegedly killed her husband Abhinandan, 35, with the help of her alleged lover Vinay and later strangled their four-year-old son after he reportedly witnessed the crime.The incident came to light on Monday morning when Harini called the police control room around 7am and reported that her husband and son were lying motionless on the bed at their residence in northwest Bengaluru. Police reached the house and found both dead.According to investigators, Harini allegedly conspired with Vinay to kill Abhinandan. Police suspect their son, Yaduveer, witnessed the murder. Fearing that the child would reveal what had happened, Harini allegedly strangled him to death, as reported by news agency IANS.Investigators suspect that the accused then placed Abhinandan's body over the child's in an attempt to create the impression that the father had killed his son before dying by suicide or being killed himself.The alleged plot came under scrutiny after police noticed inconsistencies in Harini's account and found clues at the crime scene. Investigators traced blood stains and found that clothes bearing blood marks had allegedly been washed and left out to dry.Police also found that the CCTV cameras at the house had been switched off after 10pm on Sunday. Investigators said Harini had allegedly deleted her call history, messages and photographs from her phone and had given contradictory accounts about the deaths.Police said Harini had called Vinay to the house around 11pm on Sunday. After the alleged murders, Vinay fled the spot. Police launched a search for him and arrested him later.During questioning, Harini was interrogated for nearly six hours and allegedly confessed to killing her husband and son, police said.DCP N Nagesh said the couple had been facing marital disputes and frequently quarrelled. Harini had left the house about three months earlier, leaving behind a letter, but the matter was kept private by family members in the hope that the couple would reconcile and resolve their differences. The investigation also revealed Harini's alleged relationship with Vinay.A family member, Jayamma, reportedly told police that she had suspected Harini's conduct for some time and had noticed that she frequently received calls.Police said the property owned by Abhinandan could have been a motive for the alleged murder. Abhinandan, the only son of his parents, owned assets worth crores of rupees, including a three-storey building in Chikkabanavara. Investigators suspect Harini and Vinay believed they could gain control of the property after his death.Harini was arrested on Monday and police are continuing efforts to trace Vinay. Investigators are working to establish the exact sequence of events and the motive behind the killings. The bodies have been sent for postmortem examination, and the report is awaited to determine the precise cause of death.(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in BengaluruStay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Download the TOI App.