Karnataka police solve Telangana businessman’s murder; body found burnt in Kodagu estate. The case took a dark turn as investigators uncovered a twisted tale of betrayal, greed, and conspiracy that ultimately led to the arrest of Ramesh’s second wife, Niharika, and her two accomplices. The motive? To seize assets worth over Rs 8 crore.
The victim, Ramesh, was a 54-year-old businessman who had recently been reported missing. His lifeless body was found on October 8 in the secluded coffee estate in Kodagu. The remains were severely burnt, making identification difficult. However, the Karnataka police were determined to bring justice and set up four special teams, comprising 16 officers, to solve the case. With numerous leads to follow, investigators began piecing together the events that led to Ramesh’s tragic end.
To crack the case, police officials meticulously examined CCTV footage from hundreds of cameras, focusing on the vicinity of the crime scene. The crime scene, located just one kilometre from the highway, had become a focal point for the investigation. Officers analyzed data from thousands of vehicles that moved through nearby towns, including Madikeri, Suntikoppa, Kushalnagar, and Madhapur, searching for any suspicious activity that could be linked to the murder. Eventually, their painstaking efforts paid off, and they identified a key lead—a red Benz, registered in Ramesh’s name, which had been spotted near the area around the time of the crime.
After tracing the vehicle, the Kodagu police coordinated with their Telangana counterparts to gather information about Ramesh’s background and personal life. It quickly became evident that there were tensions simmering beneath the surface in his family. The investigation revealed troubling details about his marriage to Niharika P., a 29-year-old woman from Mongeer Nagar in Telangana. Niharika married Ramesh in 2018, but their relationship has been strained in recent times, particularly due to her demand for Rs 8 crore, which Ramesh had refused.
Niharika, originally from Telangana, had faced her own set of challenges before marrying Ramesh. She had lost her father at a young age, and her mother remarried soon after. Niharika’s early life was marked by hardship, but she was academically gifted. She earned an engineering degree and worked in several companies, where she earned a decent salary. However, despite her success, her life took a dark turn when she became embroiled in a financial scam while living in Haryana. The scam led to her arrest, and upon her release, she moved to Bangalore, where she eventually married Ramesh. Initially, Ramesh financed her lavish lifestyle, but cracks in their marriage soon began to appear.
Driven by greed and resentment over Ramesh’s refusal to meet her demands, Niharika conspired with her associate Dr. Nikhil, a veterinarian, and a friend, Ankur Rana, to carry out the murder. On October 1, she allegedly lured Ramesh to Uppal, Hyderabad, under false pretences. Once there, Niharika and her accomplices reportedly strangled him to death. The trio then transported Ramesh’s body to Kodagu, a journey of approximately 840 kilometres, in an attempt to conceal the crime. Once they arrived in Kodagu, they left the body in a coffee plantation, covered it with a blanket, and set it ablaze in a desperate attempt to destroy any evidence.
Despite committing such a heinous crime, Niharika made every effort to avoid suspicion. Maintaining a calm facade, she even went as far as filing a missing person report for Ramesh to throw investigators off track. However, as the investigation progressed, the police’s suspicions increasingly centred on Niharika. Eventually, she was taken into custody, and under questioning, she confessed to the crime, revealing the entire conspiracy.
The investigation also led to the arrests of Dr Nikhil and Ankur Rana, who were allegedly involved in the murder plot. Authorities are now delving deeper into Ankur’s past, as his involvement in this high-profile case has raised concerns about his possible connections to other criminal activities, including the mysterious disappearance of his wife. The police are exploring whether Ramesh’s murder could be part of a broader pattern of criminal behaviour involving Ankur.
The solving of this case has highlighted the dedication and resourcefulness of the Karnataka police, who worked tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice. By meticulously analyzing CCTV footage, tracking vehicle movements, and collaborating with police in Telangana, the investigators were able to connect the dots and solve a complex case involving deceit, greed, and a chilling disregard for human life. The arrest of Niharika and her accomplices has not only provided a sense of closure for Ramesh’s grieving family but also serves as a reminder that, despite attempts to conceal the truth, justice will eventually prevail.