Subrahmanya: Jayananda Gowda (53), a resident of Kootkunja near Panja, had gone missing since July 14.
He had left home riding a bike. From Nintikal, he had phoned his brother Vishwanath in Punchattaru saying that he was going to visit an astrologer in Kuvettodu.
Jayananda and Lalita
But he neither visited any astrologer around nor return home. On July 16, his wife filed a complaint at the Subrahmanya police station about his disappearance.
His bike was found in Nettar near Bellare a few days later. On July 29, his body was found in decomposed state in Odya forest of Peruvaje village. SP Dr Sharanappa arrived at the spot supervised the legal formalities.
There was no obvious clue regarding the death. However, the police got a lead that a jeep had tried to knock down Jayananda’s bike a month earlier and it was being driven by one Dhananjaya. They tracked down all the calls to his mobile. He was found to be in constant touch with one Chandrakant of Karumbu Nekkilu in Panja.
He was taken into custody. But not much information was available from him. They laid a trap to arrest Dhananjaya as he came to supply milk to a cooperative. But on seeing the police vehicle, he fled the spot. Yet, he was arrested from his home.
On interrogation, he admitted that he, with the abetment of Jayananda’s wife Lalita, had murdered her husband with the help of Chintan of Charvaka Koppa and Dinesh of Kaimana Majaladka. The police arrested all the three, besides Dhananjaya.
The interrogations also brought to light that Dhananjaya and Lalita had illicit relationship and she wanted to get rid of Jayananda, who was an obstruction to their liaison. After the murder, she showed worry about his disappearance and kept speaking to her acquaintances about the safety of her husband.
Police enquiries have revealed that Lalita had given Dhananjaya a contract amount of Rs 60,000 for executing the murder.
Puttur DySP Bhaskar Rai and Sullia circle inspector B S Satish are pursuing the investigations.
Jayananda had married Lalita from Dhammadka. They have a daughter studying in VII standard in a school in Nintikal.
Earlier news:
Subrahmanya: Kootkunja Resident on Way to Consult Astrologer Goes Missing