Chikkaballapur, 29 June

A man, with dreams of making it big in London, went missing after leaving for the airport. His body was found weeks later decomposing in a well, allegedly killed by the friend facilitating the trip.

The victim, Ramanji, 30, was a double degree holder with an MSc Agriculture. He was working as a lecturer in a private institution in City. 

He expressed his desire of moving to London to one of his friends, Sudhakar, a finance company employee, in Chintamani.  Sudhakar told him that he had overseas contacts and would be willing to help him to get a job in London.

Ramanji then began preparations, transferring around Rs 15 lakhs to Sudhakar for the travel expenses.

On 19 June, Sudhakar picked Ramanji up from his house to drop him at the airport.  However, there was no news of Ramanji from then on.

Meanwhile, locals in Kempadenahalli in Chintamani taluk found a decomposed body in a well. Two stones were tied to the body. Police lifted the body and a post mortem was conducted. 

Photos of the body and other belongings of the deceased were posted on social media to help identify the body. 

Ramanji’s brother, Viswanath, rushed to Chintamani rural police station, and confirmed that it was his brother’s body.

Soon after, police took Sudhakar into custody who confessed to the crime. He said Ramanji was demanding the money back, prompting his decision to kill Ramanji. With the help of his younger brother Manoj and another accused Manjunth, Sudhakar strangled Ramanji, burnt his belongings and dumped the body in the well.