Chikkaballapur, 31 May

Chikkaballapura police have solved the murder of a 23-year-old woman within 24 hours and arrested her sister-in-law and the latter’s cousin for allegedly conspiring to kill her and stage the crime as a robbery.

The accused, Bhavya, was allegedly being blackmailed by one Lohith Kumar, from Hoskote, who had some private videos of her. Lohith had already allegedly extorted some Rs 6 lakh from Bhavya, said Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chousky.

However, Lohith’s demands grew, and Bhavya planned to rob her sister-in-law, the deceased Pushpalatha, of her gold ornaments.

On 28 May, Pushpalatha’s husband Bharth – who is Bhavya’s twin - reportedly went out for a trip. Bhavya informed Lokesh, who then went to the house and smothered Pushpalatha with a pillow. Lokesh then slit the throat to depict it as a murder and decamped with the ornaments.

Bhavya then told police that miscreants entered the house, used pepper spray on her, and then slit Pushpalatha’s throat.

However, police investigation and an autopsy did not corroborate the story. There were no signs of forcible entry and no deep wounds on the deceased’s throat.

Following the findings, police interrogated Bhavya, who then spilt the beans and confessed.