A 24-year-old man from Kalaburagi district was allegedly murdered by his elder brother with the help of two associates inside a car in Bengaluru before his body was dumped near a lake, the police said on Wednesday. The shocking crime, the police noted, stemmed from longstanding family tensions and frequent violent behaviour by the victim.
Elder brother cites harassment and violence at home
According to the police, the victim, Dhanaraj, had a history of criminal and aggressive conduct. His elder brother Shivaraj, 28, told investigators that he could no longer cope with the repeated assaults and harassment caused by Dhanaraj.
Both brothers hail from Kalaburagi district, though Dhanaraj lived with their parents in the family home. Police said he was involved in multiple thefts, frequent drinking, and regular fights. He had allegedly assaulted his parents on several occasions and had even attacked Shivaraj when confronted about his behaviour. Neighbours had also lodged several complaints against him, accusing him of stealing mobile phones and livestock.
Murder planned with two friends
Shivaraj, who works as a cab driver in Bengaluru, allegedly planned the murder along with his friends Sandeep, 24, and Prashanth, 26. Unable to tolerate the ongoing harassment at home, he reportedly decided to eliminate his brother.
On 2 November, Shivaraj called Dhanaraj to Bengaluru under the pretext of helping him secure a job. Once he arrived, the three accused picked him up from the Bannerghatta–NICE Road junction. Dhanaraj was seated in the front passenger seat, occupied with his mobile phone.
Investigators said that at a pre-determined moment, Sandeep and Prashanth, who were seated at the back, grabbed Dhanaraj from behind. Taking advantage of the situation, Shivaraj allegedly used a machete to strike his younger brother on the neck, killing him inside the car.
Body dumped and evidence destroyed
The trio later dumped the body along the Bannerghatta–Kaggalipura road, a secluded stretch on the city’s outskirts. They also disposed of the car’s blood-soaked floor mat and the machete near the Electronic City–NICE Road corridor in an attempt to mislead investigators and destroy evidence.
CCTV footage cracks the case
On 6 November, the decomposed body was discovered by passersby, leading police to initially suspect an unnatural but not necessarily criminal death. However, officers from the Bannerghatta police station reviewed CCTV footage from a private company located near the spot where the body was found.
The footage clearly showed a car pulling over and three men disposing of what appeared to be a body. Using the vehicle registration number, the police were able to trace the car to Shivaraj.
Following interrogation, all three accused reportedly confessed to the crime.
Accused arrested and sent to judicial custody
The Bannerghatta police have registered a case of murder. Shivaraj, Sandeep and Prashanth have all been taken into custody and remanded to judicial custody pending further investigation. Police officials said that more details may emerge as the probe continues, including whether the accused had planned the crime days in advance or acted impulsively.
Conclusion
The case has once again highlighted how unresolved domestic tensions mixed with criminal tendencies can result in extreme acts of violence. Police said they are also speaking with neighbours and family members to gather a detailed behavioural history of the victim as part of the investigation.