Mandya: A disturbing case of online acquaintance turning fatal came to light on Tuesday as police arrested a 28-year-old engineering graduate, Puneeth Gowda, for the alleged murder of Preethi Sundaresh, a married woman and mother of two, whom he had met on Facebook just two days prior.
According to the police, Preethi, a resident of Hassan, had gone missing on Saturday. Following a complaint from her family, investigators traced her phone records and Facebook conversations, which pointed to Gowda as the last person in contact with her. His arrest led to the chilling discovery of her body, buried on his farm near the Kattaraghatta forest in KR Pet.
Police say the two had arranged to meet privately after chatting online, with both expressing interest in a physical relationship. Without informing her family, Preethi left with Gowda in his car to a secluded spot near Hassan. An argument reportedly erupted between them, during which Gowda struck her fatally.
Gowda later transported her body to his farmland and buried it. During interrogation, he claimed the argument began after Preethi allegedly offered him money to continue the physical relationship, which he refused, leading to a violent outburst.
On Wednesday, Mandya police escorted him back to the burial site for evidence recovery as the investigation continues.