Madikeri: What was originally a murder for business rivalry turned into a passion crime where a woman instructed her lover to kill her husband. The woman and her lover meticulously planned the murder and she gave complete details of her husband’s daily routine so that the murder motive will look like business rivalry. Thanks to speedy investigation by the Police, the woman, her paramour and another accomplice are behind bars now.

The accused have been identified as 26-year-old Kalachanda Shanthi Poovaiah, a resident of Iggodlu village at Madapura in Kodagu district, her lover 40-year-old Mandepanda Rajesh alias Aiyappa, a resident of Chambebellur in Virajpet taluk and his relative 44-year-old Mandepanda Ashok alias Devaiah.

They had executed the murder of Shanthi’s husband Kalachanda Ranju Poovaiah, a jeep driver. The gun that was used for the crime, mobile phones and a bike have been seized by the Police.

According to the Police, Ranju Poovaiah was murdered on Dec.23, 2017 and the killers had fired a gunshot at him in front of his house. Shanthi Poovaiah had befriended Mandepanda Rajesh on Facebook and their relationship grew into a roving affair. Shanthi complained to Rajesh that her husband Ranju was an alcoholic and use to harass her in a drunken stupor every day.

They planned to eliminate Ranju and Rajesh told Shanthi that if they hired killers from outside it will be an expensive affair. They then planned to involve Mandepanda Ashok and promised him to give Rs.1.50 lakh after he committed the murder.

As per plan, Shanthi gave out Ranju’s routine and told them that he left home at 5 am every day as he was a jeep driver. Ranju would take tourists to scenic spots at Madapura, Mandalapatti and surrounding areas. On Dec.23, Mandepanda Ashok and Shanthi’s paramour Rajesh lay in wait for Ranju to leave his house.

On that day, Ranju opened the doors of his house at 5 am and came out to board his jeep. Utilising this opportunity, Ashok fired at him from his Single Barrel Muzzle Loading (SBBL) gun and fled the spot along with Rajesh in a bike. Shanthi too feigned ignorance before the Police about her husband’s death though she was the mastermind.

Kodagu SP Rajendra Kumar said that they were able to crack the case when they checked the background and phone records of Shanthi, Ranju, Ashok and Rajesh. Initially, Shanthi told the Police that Ranju had many rivals and business rivalry could be the reason for the murder.

The SP said that Rajesh studied till 9th Standard at Virajpet and has been involved in two attempts to murder cases. In one case, he was sentenced to seven-year jail in 2012. The other accused Ashok studied till 8th Standard at Devanageri Village near Virajpet and was booked by Virajpet Rural Police Station sleuths for intimidating someone in 2010, the SP added.