An unsettling murder case in Ajekar, Karkala Taluk, Udupi district has shocked the coastal region. Pratima, a wife accused of conspiring with her lover, Dileep Hegde, to murder her husband, Balakrishna, using slow poison, has been arrested. Following her arrest, a confession made by Pratima in an audio recording went viral, sparking widespread attention.
District Police Superintendent Dr. Arun K confirmed that both Pratima and Dileep are charged in the murder of Balakrishna. Pratima has been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days, while Dileep is currently in police custody. In a twist, Pratima reportedly admitted to the murder in the viral audio, confessing the crime to her brother.
According to the investigation, Pratima planned her husband’s death with the intention of avoiding suspicion. She chose to poison him gradually, believing that a sudden death would raise alarms. With the help of Dileep, she administered poison to Balakrishna, causing severe damage to his kidneys, liver, and nervous system. For over 25 days, Balakrishna endured symptoms such as fever and vomiting.
Despite seeking medical help at six different hospitals, including KMC in Manipal, NIMHANS and Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru, and Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore, the poisoning went unnoticed. On October 20, when Balakrishna fell into a deep sleep around 2:30 a.m., Dileep allegedly smothered him with a bedsheet while Pratima restrained his chest and legs, causing his death.
Suspicious marks around Balakrishna’s lips and cheeks led Pratima’s brother, Sandeep, to suspect foul play. After filing a police complaint, he later recorded Pratima’s confession, where she implicated Dileep in the crime. The confession was handed over to the authorities, prompting an investigation into the tragic death of Balakrishna.