BENGALURU: The investigation into the kidnapping and murder of a realtor near Anekal has taken a dramatic turn, with police alleging that the killing was orchestrated by his former business associate who believed the victim had used black magic to ruin him.
Eight people, including two minors, were arrested from a hideout in Krishnagiri late Tuesday night in connection with the abduction and murder of Gopal.
The incident unfolded around 7 pm on Sunday when Gopal was driving his SUV with a friend, Satish. Near Anekal, a mini-goods vehicle allegedly rammed their car, forcing them to stop. When the two men stepped out, the attackers sprayed a chemical on Satish’s face and abducted Gopal in another vehicle.
The following morning, police in Krishnagiri alerted their counterparts in Anekal after discovering a body dumped by the roadside near Denkanikote. A photograph confirmed the victim was Gopal. By then, Anekal police had already registered a kidnapping case, which was later converted into a murder investigation.
Gopal’s wife, Swati, told police that Mohan Babu, his former business partner, was responsible for the killing. She claimed that her husband had been assaulted by Mohan and his associates last year but did not approach the police due to Mohan’s alleged influence.
Based on her statement, police detained Mohan for questioning and later arrested several others identified as Ananda, Santosh Kumar, Teja, Darshan and Nikhil, along with two minors. Two other suspects, Harsha and Narayanaswamy, are currently absconding.
During interrogation, investigators learned that Mohan had grown increasingly suspicious that Gopal was practising black magic against him, which he believed had caused setbacks in his real estate business.
Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police MV Chandrakant said Gopal had earlier worked under Mohan as a commission agent before starting his own real estate dealings.
“Gopal used to work under Mohan as a commission agent and then started operating independently. This didn’t go down well with the latter. Mohan also believed that black magic practised by Gopal had adversely impacted his business and health,” Chandrakant said.
Police said the relationship between the two had deteriorated over the past five years as Gopal began handling his own deals and earning significant profits, which allegedly fuelled resentment and insecurity on Mohan’s part.
