BENGALURU:
The Subramanyapura police have apprehended a former car driver in connection with the murder of senior geologist Prathima at her residence on Saturday night. The accused has confessed to the crime, stating that he killed Prathima out of revenge for terminating his employment.
City Police Commissioner B Dayananda stated, “We have taken the former car driver, Kiran, into custody. After the incident, Kiran had fled to Chamarajanagar, and the police apprehended him from Male Mahadeshwara Hills. He had turned off his phone and was on the run.”
He further added, “The accused, Kiran, was a car driver employed on a contract basis. He had been working for the past four years. Kiran was dismissed from his position just ten days ago. Due to suspicions, the police have detained Kiran and initiated an investigation.”
Kiran’s father, Suresh, was also a driver in the same department. Sources reveal that there was animosity between Prathima and the car driver following an accident involving her official vehicle, which led to his termination. Enraged by this, he committed the murder as an act of revenge, according to the police commissioner.
The Mines and Geology Department had provided Prathima with a new Mahindra Bolero car a month ago, but Kiran was involved in an accident while driving the vehicle. He parked the car near the office, handed the key to the security guard, and fled. When he failed to return to work, Prathima hired a new car driver who was acquainted with her. The accident had evidently become a point of contention between Kiran and Prathima.
Sources indicate that on Saturday night, Kiran pleaded with Prathima to reinstate him as her car driver, but she refused. She also warned him not to disclose.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Kiran had falsely claimed to be a government employee in order to convince his wife’s parents to allow their marriage. However, after being fired from his job, Kiran’s wife left him. On Saturday, Kiran, desperate to either regain employment or seek revenge, approached Prathima to ask for her help in finding work as her driver. When she refused, he became enraged and grabbed a knife from her kitchen, slashing her throat. Kiran then stole Rs 15,000 from her purse, discarded the knife near JP Nagar, and fled to Male Mahadeshwara Hills with two friends.
As part of the investigation, the Subramanyapura police have confiscated Prathima’s mobile phone. The phone was discovered near the entrance of her house at the time of the murder, but it was locked. Consequently, the police have sent it to the technical cell to be unlocked, allowing them to examine the call records and duration.
Although there are over 20 houses on the same road as Prathima’s rented residence, only three of them have CCTV cameras installed. The police have obtained CCTV footage from these cameras as part of their investigation.
Regarding the murder case of the senior geologist, Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara stated, “The police are actively pursuing the case and have intensified their investigation. They received a tip-off regarding the murder, which has guided their progress. All details will be revealed in due course. Once the suspect is apprehended, the truth will come to light.”
Dr Parameshwara criticized the BJP’s tweet about the Prathima murder case, asserting that the party would soon discover whether or not the Home Minister is effectively fulfilling his duties in the state.
