Bengaluru: In January 1996, the city woke up to the chilling news of the murder of British tourist James William Stuart, whose body was found stuffed in a sack in Chandra Layout. His partner, a 27-year-old British woman, was discovered raped in their lodge room at Cottonpet. The shocking case gripped Bengaluru, forcing police to act swiftly under mounting pressure. Within ten days, the case was cracked, and the culprits were arrested, thanks to forensic inputs and a suspicious security guard’s sudden resignation.
Discovery of Stuart’s body
On January 5, 1996, the Bengaluru police were informed of a body dumped in Chandra Layout, then a largely isolated part of the city. The victim was identified as James William Stuart, based on a clothing store bill found in his pocket. Police traced him to Sudha Lodge, where his partner revealed she had been raped.
The investigation was divided: one team looked into the sexual assault, while then DCP (West) Praveen Sood (now CBI director) tasked Inspector Abdul Azeem of Basaveshwaranagar police station with probing the murder.
Post-mortem reveals vital clue
Dr Thirunavukkarasu, the government doctor who conducted the autopsy, concluded that Stuart had been killed within minutes of consuming his last meal at Briand Square. The cause of death was a brain haemorrhage due to a blow from a blunt object. This pointed to the murder having occurred close to the restaurant he had just left.
With this breakthrough, police began combing through nearby isolated areas.
Suspicious resignation of a security guard
During late-night checks near Briand Square, Azeem’s team found a vacant petrol bunk guarded by a newly appointed security guard. He revealed that his predecessor, Mahadevaiah, had suddenly resigned a day after the murder.
Sensing something unusual, police traced Mahadevaiah through a clever ruse: posing as officers investigating a major jewellery heist, they convinced his employer, Garuda Security Services, to share his address.
When questioned, Mahadevaiah cracked. He revealed that his acquaintances Fakruddin and Shabbir Ahmed had brought a foreigner to the site on the night of January 4 in an attempt to rob him. In the scuffle, Fakruddin struck Stuart on the head with a wooden stick, killing him instantly. With autorickshaw driver Sanaullah’s help, they stuffed the body into a sack and dumped it in Chandra Layout.
The gang and their motives
Investigations revealed the gang’s broader intent. Earlier that evening, Shami Ahmed had harassed Stuart’s partner. Later, Fakruddin lured Stuart with an offer of marijuana. Spotting his wallet full of cash, the gang attempted to rob him, but the plan escalated into murder.
Within 24 hours of Mahadevaiah’s confession, the police arrested Fakruddin, Shabbir, Shami, Basheer, and Sanaullah. On January 15, 1996, then city police commissioner T Srinivasulu announced the arrests.
Quick trial and conviction
By April 1997, a local court had sentenced the five accused to life imprisonment (a minimum of 14 years). Inspector Azeem later called it one of the swiftest convictions of his career.
Interestingly, years later, after Azeem took voluntary retirement and entered politics, he encountered Fakruddin campaigning for him while on parole, a gesture of gratitude for the officer’s support to his family during difficult times.
Conclusion
The 1996 Stuart murder case highlighted the importance of forensic science, persistence, and unconventional investigative tactics. From a doctor’s post-mortem observation to the hunch about a guard’s sudden resignation, each piece of the puzzle helped Bengaluru police crack a case that shook the city’s conscience. Nearly three decades later, the case remains a reference point for quick, efficient policing in high-pressure situations.