The sensational case in which a 45-year-old software engineer allegedly shot his wife dead in the middle of the road minutes before walking into the station to surrender on December 23 has taken a dramatic turn, with the police taking another habitual offender from Tamil Nadu on a body warrant in connection with the crime.
The Magadi Road police have arrested Salem native Moulesh, the habitual offender in a theft case. He was remanded in custody. The police are questioning him along with the prime accused Balamurugan.
The incident occurred on the evening of December 23 at Industrial town in Magadi Road police station limits, where Balamurugan allegedly shot dead his estranged wife Bhuvaneshwari, 39, a bank employee, with a pistol in public.
During police interrogation, a startling revelation emerged. Investigators found that prior to the murder, Balamurugan had travelled to Salem, where he met Moulesh at a hotel owned by his relatives. He reportedly offered a contract with ₹1.5 lakh and a pistol to carry out the hit job .
Balamuguran also allegedly discussed plans to carry out the murder at a location without CCTV coverage. It is alleged that Balamurugan asked him to execute the murder within two to three months.
Moulesh reportedly told Balamurugan that he needed time to survey the location and conduct reconnaissance. Following this, Moulesh allegedly came to Bengaluru and conducted a recce of Bhuvaneshwari’s workplace and the routes she frequently used. However, he returned to his hometown with the pistol over a dispute regarding the contract money.
Enraged, Balamurugan allegedly decided to carry out the murder himself. As per his plan, he allegedly shot dead his wife with a second pistol he had and later surrendered before the police.
The police have also summoned and questioned several persons linked to Balamurugan as part of the ongoing investigation. A further probe is under way to establish the full conspiracy angle and the role of others involved.
The police said that further investigations are on to ascertain the source of the weapon as Balamurugan claimed that he had borrowed the weapons and ammunition from Bihar.
Published – January 10, 2026 10:59 pm IST
