Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Nov 26: Venkatraman Babu(30), a resident of  Aletty in Sullia taluk, was remanded to 15 days judicial custody by a court in Bangalore on Thursday November 25. He has been accused of murdering his roommate and friend, Umilayi Govind Bhat (33) from Kukkedy village near Venur in the taluk, after developing illicit relationship with Bhat’s wife, Soumya. Soumya, a student of a diploma course in Nitte, who reportedly was a party to the crime, was arrested on Tuesday night by the policemen, and is already in judicial custody.

Babu was produced in the court by the policemen of White Field police station in Bangalore, under whose jurisdiction the murder had taken place. The accused was taken to Parappana Agrahara Jail.

Govind Bhat had lost his life on the night of April 29 this year. Venkatramana Babu and Soumya had told the policemen that Bhat had slipped in the bathroom, and had died of head injuries in this incident. Soumya testified that she too had slipped in the bathroom several times in the past. Growing suspicious over the death of his son, Govind Bhat’s father, Shankaranarayana Bhat, had filed a complaint with the policemen on June 8.

The policemen, who took up the investigation, reportedly found that Govind Bhat had, as per the desire of his wife, who had been educated till SSLC, allowed her to undergo diploma in fashion designing in Nitte. He had taken up a job in Bangalore, and as his wife was away, had admitted a room mate, Venkataramana Babu. Soumya used to visit her husband, and during the time Bhat worked in shifts, Babu came close to Soumya. Both of them hatched a conspiracy to kill Govind Bhat. Venkatramana Babu has been accused of hitting Bhat’s head with sharp weapons and cleaning the blood that had oozed out afterwards. The policemen found a number of wounds in Bhat’s head, which did not match with the story concocted by Babu and Soumya.