Belthangady: Police crack retired teacher’s murder; Son-in-law & grandson arrested

Belthangady: The police have arrested a son-in-law and a grandson in connection with the murder of 83-year-old retired teacher, Balakrishna Badekillaya, from Belalu.

The suspects, Muralikrishna (21), who works as an assistant priest and is the grandson of the deceased, and his father, Raghavendra V Kedilaya (58), an agriculturist and astrologer from Mulleria in Kasargod, were taken into custody.

Balakrishna was brutally attacked with a machete in the yard of his house on August 20. Reports suggest that tensions arose because Balakrishna had not handed over the gold ornaments of his late wife, U Leela (75), who passed away four years ago, to their daughter, Vijayalaxmi, who is married to Raghavendra. Furthermore, he had not given her a share of the family property. This is believed to have driven Raghavendra and Muralikrishna to plot the murder.

The investigation has revealed that the father and son allegedly travelled from Kasargod to Belalu on a scooter, carrying a machete. On the day of the crime, Balakrishna’s younger son, Suresh Bhat, served him tea before leaving for work in Puttur. Pleased by the visit from his grandson and son-in-law, Balakrishna served them a meal. However, Muralikrishna is said to have approached Balakrishna from behind and slit his throat. When Balakrishna tried to flee, both father and son chased him into the yard and repeatedly attacked him with the machete.

Details of the crime began to unravel when Dharmasthala police visited the suspects’ house in Kasargod and took them into custody. According to police interrogations, the accused had also planned to kill Suresh Bhat. After murdering Balakrishna, they waited at the house for Suresh’s return. When he did not show up, they allegedly took two bond papers worth Rs 50,000 each and some documents from a cupboard before fleeing back to Kasargod on their scooter.

Vijayalaxmi, the daughter of the deceased, was reportedly unaware of her husband and son’s involvement until the Dharmasthala police arrived at her home and arrested them.

A canine squad from Mangaluru assisted in the investigation by tracing the suspects’ movements. The dog led investigators to a well where a plantain leaf used after their meal was discarded, and then toward the road, providing crucial clues. By gathering the mobile numbers of all family members, the police conducted an operation that eventually led to the arrest of Raghavendra and Muralikrishna.

Vijayalaxmi and Raghavendra visited Belalu on August 21 to view Balakrishna’s remains. However, Muralikrishna, the grandson, did not attend the visit to his grandfather’s house.