Seven held for murder of Gescom officer

Vijayapura: Almel police have cracked the murder case of Gescom branch officer Rajashekhar Cheddi of Jewargi and arrested seven persons in connection with the case.
In a press release, SP H D Anand Kumar has said that a special investigation team headed by Indi DSP Chandrakant Nandaraddi was formed to probe the case. He identfied the accused as Yashwant Sripati Melakeri, 36, resident of Taj Sultanpur; Shrishail Peerappa Jamadar, 22; Shivakumar Rukmayya Guttedar, 22; Baburao Mallesh Samagar, 22, all are from Bhimalli; Sudhakar Gundappa Madagunaki, 24, of Duttargaon; Bheemakshankar Shantrappa Patil, 32, of Darga Shirur; and Shivanand Kalyani Kamman, 21, of Pattan.
The accused had kidnapped Cheddi in a car at Jewargi and kept him hostage demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. They have admitted to murdering the officer as they did not get the ransom, and throwing the body at Somajyal village in Almel police limits. “We have learnt that accused persons are involved in others such cases in Kalaburagi district,” he added.
Cheddi’s wife Geeta had filed a complaint on May 21 at Almel police station. Cheddi was working as a branch officer at the Gescom Jewargi office.