Former IB officer murder case: Neighbour among two held by Mysuru police

MYSURU: Mysuru city police have uncovered the mystery behind the murder of RN Kulkarni (81), a former officer of the National Intelligence Bureau, by arresting a youth and his friend.
Police Commissioner Chandragupta confirmed the motive behind the murder was dispute regarding the construction of a house behind the Kulkarni's house in TK layout IV stage in west Mysuru. The recent order by Mysuru City Corporation directing the accused family to demolish the structure violating the building bylaws triggered his murder.
The TOI had reported accurately about the motive for murder in its Wednesday edition.
Manu (30) has been arrested for mowing down Kulkarni. His friend has been detained for assisting him in the murder while the role of his other family members including his father Madappa is being ascertained by the police.
Manu’s family is constructing a house behind Kulkarni’s house and the latter had objected to the construction of a wall adjoining to his building leading to disagreement. Kulkarni had knocked on the doors of the police, and Mysuru City Corporation and then finally approached the court by filing a complaint against Madappa and his sons. The court that conducted hearings since February had reserved its judgment on November 9. In the meantime, MCC had directed Madappa and sons to demolish the part of the structure on November 2 and had served them notice, which irked the family.
Kulkarni was fatally knocked down by an unidentified vehicle inside the Manasa Gangothri campus on Friday (November 4) around 5.30pm, while the officer was on an evening stroll. Initially, police believed it could be a case of accidental death until they scanned footage from nearby CCTV. The incident happened near the biotechnology department on the sprawling campus of the University of Mysuru.
Chandragupta, the police commissioner, said the biggest challenge in cracking the case was identifying the vehicle used in the crime as the sedan didn’t had a number plate. Four teams were formed under the leadership of ACPs Shivashankar and Ashwathnarayan and a total of 50 policemen were involved in for the investigation to crack the case within three days.