A Bengaluru tech professional, who went missing in late October, was found murdered in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The body of 34-year-old software engineer Shrinath K, reported missing from Attibele on October 27, was discovered buried in an abandoned house near Kuppam, Chittoor district. The remains were exhumed on November 16.
Police investigations revealed that Shrinath was killed by his cousin, 39-year-old Prabhakar, a resident of Kuppam with a criminal record. Prabhakar and his associate, 35-year-old Jagadish, who also has a history of offences, have both been arrested.
Shrinath lived with his wife, Neha MP, and their child in Smilee Celestial Layout, Neraluru, Bengaluru. After he failed to return home, Neha filed a missing person complaint on November 1, stating that her husband had gone to meet Prabhakar in Kuppam that day. She suspected Prabhakar’s involvement due to a recent business deal between the two cousins.
According to police, Prabhakar had attended Shrinath’s housewarming and persuaded him to invest Rs40 lakh, promising to double the amount. Shrinath borrowed the sum and handed it over. Initially, Prabhakar denied meeting him and produced false evidence claiming he was in Bengaluru, leading police to temporarily rule him out.
However, Neha insisted that her husband had transferred a large sum, prompting police to upgrade the missing person complaint to a kidnapping case. Prabhakar was taken into custody on November 13.
During interrogation, Prabhakar first attempted to shift blame onto Neha, but under sustained questioning, he admitted to the murder. He confessed to luring Shrinath to a government housing colony in Kuppam, attacking him with a hammer, and burying the body with Jagadish’s help. Prabhakar claimed he had received Rs10 lakh from Shrinath and returned Rs5 lakh. When Shrinath demanded the remaining money, Prabhakar decided to kill him. Police confirmed that further investigation is underway.
