Bengaluru: A shocking double death case has emerged from Karnataka, where a college professor was found charred inside a car, while her alleged partner was discovered dead on railway tracks a day later. Police suspect the incident stems from a violent altercation during a trip to Nandi Hills.
The deceased woman has been identified as Saroja J, 40, a Kannada professor at a private college in Devanahalli. The man, C Ramanjinappa, 45, an employee at the Devanahalli taluk office, is believed to have been in a relationship with her.
Woman found charred in car
According to police, the incident began on Saturday when Ramanjinappa borrowed a hatchback from his friend under the pretext of a family medical emergency. He then picked up Saroja from Devanahalli around 9.30 am, and the two spent several hours travelling around Nandi Hills and nearby areas.
By evening, they reached a secluded stretch near Jinkebachhahalli in Doddaballapur. Investigators believe an argument broke out between the two while they were inside the vehicle.
Police suspect that Ramanjinappa struck Saroja on the head with a hammer during the altercation. After she lost consciousness, he allegedly moved her to the back seat, poured petrol inside the car, and set it ablaze in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Locals alerted authorities after noticing a car engulfed in flames. Fire personnel and police rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze, only to find a completely charred body inside.
Witness accounts and initial clues
Witnesses told police they saw a man running away from the burning vehicle, with parts of his clothes on fire. This raised suspicion and helped investigators narrow down the sequence of events.
Around the same time, the vehicle’s owner received an automatic collision alert on his phone. Concerned, he tried contacting Ramanjinappa, but his phone was switched off.
Police traced the vehicle through its chassis number and confirmed that Ramanjinappa had taken it earlier that day. This led to the formation of a special investigation team to track him down.
Second body found on railway tracks
On Sunday morning, railway police reported the discovery of a mutilated body on tracks near Bidadi. The body was found severed, indicating a possible train impact.
An Aadhaar card recovered near the body helped identify the deceased as Ramanjinappa. Police are now investigating whether his death was a suicide following the alleged murder or if other factors were involved.
Identification and complaint
Meanwhile, Saroja had been reported missing on Saturday night. Investigators recovered burnt ornaments from the charred body in the car and contacted her husband, Jayashankar, who identified them as belonging to his wife.
Subsequently, Saroja’s husband filed a police complaint accusing Ramanjinappa of murdering her. Officials are now working to establish a clear timeline and motive behind the crime.
Investigation underway
A special team led by senior officers has been constituted to probe the case. Police are examining forensic evidence, call records, and witness statements to piece together the sequence of events.
Authorities are also exploring the nature of the relationship between the two and whether it played a role in triggering the violent incident.
Conclusion
The gruesome case has sent shockwaves across Bengaluru, highlighting the tragic consequences of personal conflicts turning violent. While initial findings suggest a murder followed by the accused’s death, police continue to investigate all angles to uncover the full truth behind the incident.