The mysterious death of a 60-year-old trucker near Attibele in Bengaluru Urban district has been confirmed as murder after a dramatic twist involving a stolen mobile phone and a notorious criminal from Tamil Nadu.

On May 11, the partially clothed body of Gangadharaiah, a resident of Yadavanahalli on Sarjapura Road, was discovered lying motionless in a bush opposite a medical college. With no visible wounds or weapons nearby, police initially assumed natural causes or self-harm and filed a case of unnatural death.

The puzzle deepened after doctors performing the postmortem found multiple rib fractures. Their report concluded he had died from internal injuries caused by blunt trauma to the chest.

Police had no leads—until Gangadharaiah’s switched-off phone became active days later. A signal showed it had been turned on in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Officers traced the phone to Naresh Kumar Raja, a 24-year-old under treatment for a gunshot wound at a government hospital.

Raja, a serial offender facing over 20 charges including homicide and theft, confessed. He said he followed Gangadharaiah into the bushes on May 10, knocked him down, sat on his torso, and repeatedly struck him in the chest before stealing his phone and ₹5,000. He fled, unaware the man had died.

Raja often prowled isolated areas, targeting lone individuals. He frequently visited Attibele due to relatives staying nearby.

Once Salem police finish their case, Bengaluru Rural cops will bring Raja back to face trial for murder with intent to rob.