Haveri, Karnataka: Police have arrested four suspects in the brutal murder of 38-year-old farmer Basavaraj Bommapa Puttannanavar, who was allegedly killed for his land and a small accident insurance payout.
The incident, initially believed to be a road accident on Chikkayadachi Road in Rattihalli on the night of September 27, took a darker turn after investigation revealed it was a pre-planned murder.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
Raghavendra Malagondar (a relative and neighbor of the victim)
Siddanagouda Karegoudar alias Halageri
Praveen
Malatesh
Basavaraj, a bachelor who lived alone, owned approximately 12 acres of farmland. Police say this property was the primary motive for the crime. However, the conspiracy ran deeper.
Investigators discovered that a Rs500 accident insurance policy had been taken out in Basavaraj’s name from a post office, with Raghavendra named as the nominee. According to Additional SP Lakshman Shirakol, both Raghavendra and Siddanagouda had been eyeing Basavaraj’s land and used his alcohol dependency to their advantage.
“They often supplied him liquor,” Shirakol said. “After intoxicating him, they took him to the sub-registrar’s office to get a will prepared in their names.”
The group then plotted his murder. On the night of the crime, Basavaraj was made to consume alcohol and was seated on the road, where he was intentionally run over by a car. The suspects hoped the staged accident would help them claim insurance money and take ownership of the farmland.
Police seized a car, a bike, and several mobile phones from the accused. All four suspects have been remanded to judicial custody.
The case sheds light on a disturbing trend of property-related murders disguised as accidents, often targeting vulnerable individuals in rural areas.
