Woman murdered near Bengaluru, body burnt to destroy evidence

The police have arrested a 34-year-old employee working on contract at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru for allegedly murdering his female friend over a relationship that had gone sour, and attempting to destroy evidence by burning her body near Devanahalli.

According to police, on February 25, the burnt body of an unidentified woman aged about 35 was found in a stormwater drain near Swarnadri Hotel in Devanahalli town. The body had been tied with a rope, wrapped in a bedsheet and plastic sheet, and petrol had been poured on it before setting it on fire in an attempt to erase evidence.

During the probe, police analysed CCTV camera footage and technical evidence, which helped them identify the deceased as Nirmala (36), a native of Nilugumba village in Chikkaballapur district, who was working in a private company at KIA on a contract basis, and staying in a rented house at Devanahalli.

On February 27, police arrested the accused, Mounesh Maitri (34), a native of Hasanapura village in Yadgir district.

Investigation revealed that Mounesh had developed an illicit relationship with Nirmala for about a year after his wife had gone to her village in connection with her pregnancy. Fearing that the relationship would come to light and affect his family life, he allegedly strangled Nirmala with a rope on February 21, inside his rented house.

The accused reportedly kept the body in the house for two days before wrapping it in a bedsheet and plastic sheet, tied it with rope, and transported it on his motorcycle to a drain near Swarnadri Hotel, where he poured petrol and set the body on fire.

Police recovered the rope used in the crime, and also the bike, plastic sheet, petrol can, petrol, and a blade from the accused. The accused was produced in court on March 3. He has been remanded to judicial custody.