Bengaluru, May 8 (IANS): Karnataka Police on Friday arrested four persons for allegedly plotting the murder of a woman by staging a road accident in Bengaluru’s Mahalakshmi Layout. The deceased, identified as Vijayalaxmi, was targeted after one of the accused, Chetan, conspired with his friends knowing she possessed money and gold jewellery. On April 21, accused Rakesh rammed his bike into Vijayalaxmi near Kurubarahalli Pipeline Road, while others shifted her to a hospital under the guise of rescuers. During admission, Manjunath, another accused who later died of illness, allegedly stole her house key from her purse and attempted theft at her residence. Suspicious neighbours confronted him, prompting a complaint to police. Meanwhile, Rakesh lodged a false traffic complaint claiming an unidentified vehicle had hit the victim and that he had saved her life. Vijayalaxmi later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Investigations revealed the staged accident was part of a larger plan to rob Vijayalaxmi’s house. CCTV footage and inquiries exposed the accused, who confessed to the crime during interrogation. Police registered cases of murder and robbery against Rakesh, Chetan, Pradeep, and Yohan, while Manjunath’s role was confirmed before his death during investigation. The accused admitted they intended to loot jewellery and cash from the victim’s residence, using the accident as a cover. The Mahalakshmi Layout police have taken up further investigation to trace all links in the conspiracy and ensure accountability for the crime.