Inchara Udupi

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 11: Raja Patel (24), who was working as helper in Udupi Power Corporation Ltd's(UPCL) power plant near Padubidri had availed leave to go to his home town, Kalaburagi, to take part in the marriage of his cousin, since April 17. He had gone missing thereafter under mysterious circumstances, and his decomposed body was found lying in a thicket near Padebettu in the district on May 8 when a local accidentally stumbled upon the body. The policemen of Padubidri, who took up investigation, have concluded that Patel was murdered by his own colleague for money.

The policemen, in a swift operation, succeeded in arresting the culprit. He has been identified as Subrahmanya (38), a resident of Nellineedu near kudremukh, who works for UPCL and happened to be Patel's colleague.

Raja Patel (24), son of Rukum Patel from Jewargi in Kalaburagi district had joined a company named Seemer, which was hired by UPCL on contract basis, about 18 months back as contract worker. As the marriage of his aunt's daughter was to be held on April 21 at his native place, Patel had applied for leave from April 17 onward. He neither reached his native place nor reported back to work thereafter. As such, a missing complaint was filed in Padubidri police station on April 25. After an unidentified body was found lying in a deserted thicket in Bikriguthu in Padebettu near Padubidri on May 8, it's identification was established on the basis of clothes found therein.

A team was formed under the guidance of Kaup police inspector, Sunil Nayak and station house officer of Padubidri, Azmat Ali, to investigate the case in all seriousness after the recovery of the body. The policemen, who concentrated on the missing cell phone of Raja Patel, kept a close watch on his colleagues. After subjecting several of them to intensive interrogation, the police suspected the involvement of Subrahmanya, who had worked with Patel before he went missing. After he was arrested from near the entrance fo Padebettu temple on Sunday, Subrahmanya confessed to his crime, the police said.

It is gathered that Subrahmanya, who was facing financial crisis, had invited Raja Patel home, as he was under the impression that Patel had lot of money with him, as he was to proceed to attend cousin's marriage. At the time, Subrahmanya's wife and children had been to his parental home, and hence the rented house was occupied by him alone. When Raja was sitting at his home and watching television programmes, Subrahmanya suddenly tightened a nylon rope around his colleague's neck from the backside, and covered his head with a plastic bag. To check that Patel was dead, he also checked by slicing his neck with a small blade.

Raja Patel lost his life at around 11 am that day. On the same night, the killer placed the body in a big polyethylene bag, carried it away for about 100 metres, before dumping it in the thicket in Bikriguthu, knowing that it was deserted and no one frequented this place. He then left for his native place, and returned after a few days, and resumed his work in UPCL.

The policemen who investigated the incoming calls to Raja Patel's cell phone in the hours before his disappearance, got suspicion about Subrahmanya's involvement. Subrahmanya told them that although he had murdered his friend, Raja Patel, thinking that he might be having huge amount of money, he could lay his hand only on Rs 1,300 Raja had on his purse. After retrieving money from Patel's purse, Subrahmanya said he burnt down the purse, sim card and ATM card found in the purse.

Subrahmanya faces charges of murder and destruction of evidence. He was produced in the court.

This informaiton was provided by additional superintendent of police of the district, Santosh Kumar, at a press conference held in Padubidri police station on Sunday.

Deputy superintendent of police, Vinay S Nayak, Kaup inspector, Sunil Nayak, and Padubidri station house officer, Azmat Ali, along with some other personnel were present.