Youth held on the charge of murdering woman, children

The city police have arrested a 23-year-old youth in connection with a triple murder case reported in Kuvempu Nagar under APMC Police Station limits on Sunday morning. The arrest happened within 12 hours of the offence being reported.

Praveen, the accused was held around 11 p.m. on Sunday based on the clues obtained from the house of the deceased, Reena (37), wife of Rakesh Malagatti. Their son Aditya (12) and daughter Sahitya (5) too were found murdered.

In his confession before the police, the accused claimed to have murdered Reena to end a forced year-long affair. He killed the two children as they woke up and saw their mother lying in a pool of blood, Police Commissioner S. Ravi said here on Monday.

Four teams led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Anupam Agarwal and Assistant Commissioner of Police B.P. Hulsagund were formed. Forensic experts had pointed out only one footprint other than that of the residents of the house at the spot.

Quoting the confession statement, Mr. Ravi said Praveen, son of ex-serviceman Subramanya Bhat, who was pursuing his Charted Accountancy course, was staying with his parents behind Mr. Malgatti’s house. His affair with Reena began over a year ago.

He often spent time with her whenever Rakesh was out of town for business purposes.

She would call him in the night and latch the door of the room provided to Harsha, a relative who was staying with the family since April.

As Rakesh was away in Goa with his elder brother Rajesh, Reena called Praveen around 11.45 p.m. on Saturday and latched the door of Harsha’s room. They consumed liquor for two hours and Praveen returned home.

He came back again around 3 a.m. and thought of ending her alleged forced affair. As she was unwilling, he lost his cool and in a fit of rage, picked up a knife from the kitchen and threatened to kill her. As she was still adamant, he stabbed and killed her.

He then strangulated Aditya and Sahitya with a rope as they had woken up and saw their mother dead. Thereafter, he hanged Aditya upside down to a tap in a bucket of water in the bathroom and returned home.

But, Mr. Ravi said the police would not believe Praveen’s version and would continue the investigation.

Sources told The Hindu that the police got a clue from one of the two cellphones of Reena. Praveen had taken one of her phones after committing the murder and had erased all the details pertaining to him. He had also changed his cellphone and SIM card.