Udupi, Sept 22: A hotelier hailing from Kundapur in Udupi district was murdered allegedly by his wife and her friend in Bengaluru, on Friday.
Santosh Shetty (56), who was a resident of Seshadripuram in central Bengaluru was running Mahalakshmi Hotel near Gandhinagar
Police said Shetty died at a private hospital around 4pm after being attacked. The hospital alerted police as Santosh was brought there with injuries all over his body.
Within two hours, police arrested Santosh’s wife, Annapoorneshwari Shetty, 44, and her friend Prakash, 24, also from Kundapura, who had recently come to Bengaluru in search of a job.
Officers said Santosh was an alcoholic and lived with his wife and two minor children. His wife alleged that he used to quarrel with her and assault her frequently under the influence of alcohol.
“Initially, Annapoorneshwari told us her husband abused and tried to assault her on Thursday night, but she somehow managed to lock him up in the room. He again tried to attack her when she unlocked the door around 6.30am on Friday, and fearing an assault she hit him with a wooden stick. Prakash rushed Santosh to hospital, where he succumbed by 4pm,” a police officer said.
Annapoorenshwari also tried to mislead police by claiming that her son suggested she use pepper spray to overpower Santosh on Thursday night. But police soon found loopholes in her story. They picked up both Annapoorneshwari and Prakash, who was with her. After interrogating them, cops concluded the duo had hatched a plan to eliminate Santosh.
“Prakash’s father and Annapoorneshwari’s father were close friends and hence the duo knew each other. Annapoorneshwari told Prakash about the harassment and they decided to kill Santosh. The women used pepper spray on him on Friday morning, while Prakash hit him on the head and other parts with a wooden stick,” police said.
Seshadripuram police have registered a case of murder. The accused will be produced before the court on Saturday.
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