Friendship betrayed: Man murders friend to fund lavish gift for second wife

BENGALURU: The Chikkamagaluru police have arrested a man for allegedly murdering his close friend to steal cash intended for a gold auction. The accused, identified as Shafi, a native of Birur, reportedly killed his friend Puttaraju to finance a gift for his second wife.

The incident traces back to February 19, when Shafi convinced Puttaraju to participate in a gold auction held by a financial institution. Trusting his friend, Puttaraju left his home at approximately 11:00 am, carrying ₹2.5 lakh in cash. Shafi picked him up on a motorcycle and led him to a secluded forest area near Honnavalli, where he allegedly hacked Puttaraju to death.

The crime remained undiscovered until February 10, when a milk vendor using a forest path spotted the body and alerted the authorities. A subsequent forensic and police investigation identified the victim and linked Shafi to the disappearance.

Police tracking revealed that immediately after the murder, Shafi checked into a lodge to meet his second wife. He reportedly gave her ₹60,000 from the stolen cash to purchase a new television. Following his arrest, the police recovered a portion of the stolen money and the weapon used in the assault. Shafi remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.