Man arrested for truck driver's murder, looting goods

Mangaluru: The Panambur police, probing a case of cheating, arrested a 49-year-old Kengeri resident, a truck driver by profession allegedly for the murder of his former colleague and robbing him of a load of palm oil he was transporting in a truck from Mangaluru to Bengaluru.

Asadullah Sharief has been arrested on charges of murdering and robbing Anil Kumar.

The police came to know about the murder while probing a case, filed by owner of Shivaganesh Transport, on August 28  accusing Anil Kumar, truck driver of Sugama Transport, of cheating as he had failed to deliver 1,050 boxes of palm oil worth Rs 7.5 lakh from Ruchi Soya Industries in Baikampady to a firm in Bengaluru.

A team of Panambur Police, led by Inspector Rafiq K.M studied the call records of the deceased and began questioning few people in connection to the murder, including the arrested Asadullah.

Reportedly, Asadullah got acquainted with Anil while he was working at Sugama Transport for a few months time. 

During the questioning, Asadullah is said to have confessed to murdering Anil Kumar with the help of a few of his accomplices and burying the body at a place in Kumbalgodu in Ramanagaram district. He also admitted to theft of the palm oil boxes in the lorry and selling them in the market.

The body of Anil Kumar was exhumed by Assistant Commissioner, Bengaluru South and following identification and post-mortem, the body was handed over to his family members, stated the police in a press note.

Asadullah was produced before the court on September 18,  Tuesday and was remanded to police custody for 15 days. Meanwhile, a search is on for the others involved in the murder.

Police Sub-Inspector Umesh Kumar M.N. and personnel from Anti Rowdy Squad were involved in the investigation.