In Bengaluru, man hires two killers to murder dad; mother escapes by a whisker

BENGALURU: A 32-year-old jobless youth, who hired two supari killers for Rs 1 crore to murder his father over a property issue, has landed in police custody.
Narayana Swamy, a resident of Caverappa Block in Marathahalli, was murdered outside his apartment on February 13. Two bike-borne assailants had attacked Swamy with a machete and sped away. Narayana Swamy's son N Manikanta was an eyewitness to the killing and had filed a complaint with Marathahalli police the same day.

Along with Manikanta, police arrested Adarsha T, 26, and Shiva Kumar NM, 26, from Hoskote.
First wife murdered in 2013
Manikanta told police he was upset as his father had decided to gift a flat to his (Manikanta's) wife Archana.
A realtor, Narayana Swamy had constructed an apartment in Cauverappa Block and lived with his wife, Manikanta, and Archana in one of the flats.
Archana is Manikanta's second wife and they have an infant daughter. His first wife was murdered in 2013 and police had arrested Manikanta on charges of killing her. However, he was acquitted in 2020 and married Archana, police said.
Later, Manikanta and Archana developed differences and he allegedly stabbed and injured her in August last year. Booked for attempt to murder, Manikanta was imprisoned in Bengaluru Central Prison where he befriended Adarsha and Shiva Kumar. Manikanta came out on bail recently and Archana started living separately.
Meanwhile, Narayana Swamy decided to register a flat in his apartment in the name of Archana so that she could lead an independent life. "Swamy was of the opinion that Manikanta would not financially support Archana. He had also stopped giving money to Manikanta. These issues provoked Manikanta into deciding to eliminate his father as well as his mother for property, " DCP (Whitefield) S Girish said. Manikanta has four elders sisters.
Manikanta hatched the murder plot with Adarsha who assigned the work to Shiva Kumar. "Manikanta promised Rs 1 crore in cash to Shiva Kumar after completing the task. He had also promised a flat and a car, each to Adarsha and Shiva Kumar," Girish said. Shiva Kumar was paid Rs 1 lakh advance.