Puttur: Photographer Jagadish’s killing resembles a 11-year-old murder case

Puttur: In the murder case of Mysuru based photographer Jagadish, police have arrested another person, bringing the total number of arrests to five.

Police have already arrested four persons — Balakrishna alias Subbaiah Rai from Paduvannur Patladka, his wife Jayalaxmi, son Prashanth, and Jeevan Prasad, a neighbour —  in the case.

It was revealed that the photographer’s murder bore resemblance to another murder that took place 11 years ago. Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Sonawane said Anile Jayaraj Shetty (48) of Badagannur village was arrested for helping to hatch the murder plot. Incidentally, he was accused in a murder case 11 years ago and had been acquitted of the charges later.

Rowdy sheeter Umesh Rai was murdered 11 years ago in a similar fashion. The murder took place at Anile in Badagannur village. Jayaraj Shetty was the prime accused in that case and is said to have hatched the plan for the murder.

Similarities in both cases 

On March 27, 2010, Thigaladi Umesh Rai had telephoned his wife informing her that he was at the residence of his friend Anile Jayaraj. On March 30, Jayaraj called up Umesh’s wife and told her that Belagavi police had taken Umesh for questioning in a case. Umesh had gone missing after that. Even after 6 months of investigation, Umesh’s disappearance remained a mystery.

Police who were tracking the movements of Jayaraj found it odd that he was living in Bengaluru for one and a half months. On September 23, Jayaraj was detained by police when he was returning home. On interrogating, Umesh’s murder plot was revealed.

It was revealed that Jayaraj and his friends killed Umesh at the plantation owned by Jayaraj and the body was buried nearby. Umesh’s involvement in the plot to kill industrialist Muttappa Rai became the reason for the murder.

Eleven years hence, the murder of photographer Jagadish on November 18 at Patladka bears stark similarities.  Jayaraj has been arrested in this context.

Astrologer’s prediction proven false!

After his disappearance, Jagadish’s wife had approached an astrologer to trace his whereabouts. The astrologer had predicted that the photographer was held hostage and was alive. This prediction has turned out to be false.