Cops: Retired IB officer was killed over a disagreement in Mysuru

MYSURU: The finger of suspicion into the three-day-old murder case of former Intelligence Bureau assistant director RN Kulkarni on the campus of the University of Mysore is pointing at a family living in the neighbourhood. The killing of the octogenarian, in all probability, is due to a legal battle launched by the deceased against his neighbour for building bylaw violation in February.
What led to the murder could be final notice issued by Mysuru City Corporation on November 2, two days before the tragedy, asking the Kulkarni’s neighbours to demolish a part of the under-construction building.
A deadline was set before the next hearing of the case scheduled at a local court in Mysuru on November 9, sources said. Having a glorious record as an efficient officer of the Intelligence Bureau, Kulkarni was said to be a man of knowledge and was a strong-willed person. Kulkarni had penned a book “Facets of terrorism in India” which was released in 2019.
Kulkarni filed the case on February 19, 2022, and the first hearing was held on February 22. Since then, there have been 16 hearings at the civil court. The latest was held on October 25 when the court had adjourned the case to November 9.
In the meantime, Mysuru City Corporation’s zone III officials slapped a final notice on Kulkarni’s neighbour asking him to demolish a part of the building at TK Layout IV stage.
MCC commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy confirmed to TOI that the final notice was slapped on November 2 asking the property owner to remove structures built illegally. A top officer claimed Kulkarni had petitioned local police about the dispute several months ago.
Supari killers?
A day after MCC slapped the final notice, Kulkarni’s assailants planned his murder and are suspected to have hired supari killers. A hatchback vehicle was used to fatally knock down Kulkarni who was on his evening stroll.
The assailants removed the number plate of the car to execute the crime near the biotechnology department. The single lane road that connects the law department and humanities block is rarely used by anyone. The incident happened within minutes after Kulkarni left home which is 2km away from campus.
Victim cremated after son’s arrival from abroad
Kulkarni was cremated at the foothills of Chamundi Hills around 10.45am according to family members. His son Rohan arrived in Mysuru from abroad late on Sunday and daughter Parinitha came early on Monday from the US. Parinitha’s husband Sanjay who was in Mysuru for two weeks, in his complaint to Jayalakshmipuram police had accused Kulkarni’s neighbours – Madappa and sons of committing the murder.