Bengaluru: The Jayanagar police have solved a kidnap and murder case and arrested the prime accused, identified as Pratap, 27, who has confessed to the crime. He told police that he was upset that the victim, identified as Yogesh, 26, was getting close to his girlfriend and thus eliminated him.

Pratap hails from Atthingere village in Magadi, while Yogesh, hailed from Kolur village in Channapatna and used to work as an executive in a real estate firm in Jayanagar. Pratap’s father Shivakumar is the president of Rajya Gorakshana Samiti.

Police said that Yogesh was staying in his sister’s house in Jayanagar Sixth Block for the past two years. On July 19, he had left home but did not return.

After waiting for two days, his sister filed a missing complaint with Jayanagar police on July 21. When the police checked his call details, it was revealed that he was in constant touch with a girl in Mysuru. When her call details were checked, it was found that she was in constant touch with accused Pratap.

“On suspicion, both were summoned for questioning. While the girl revealed that she became friends with Yogesh several months ago through Facebook and had become very close. Pratap, who was in love with the girl, was unhappy with this. He had also warned Yogesh several times to stay away from her,” the police said.

“Later, Pratap hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Yogesh and approached his friends for help, who agreed. On July 19 around 10 am, while Yogesh was walking at Jayanagar Sixth Block and the accused kidnapped him in a car and took him to Pratap’s farm house in Atthingere village. The accused tied Yogesh’s hands and assaulted him. Yogesh fell unconscious. Later, they took an iron rod and murdered Yogesh. They then buried the body in the farmhouse,” the police added.

It is learnt that when Pratap was summoned for questioning on July 23, he was made to wait in the station. After a while, he had managed to escape while the police were busy with other work. This aroused suspicion among the police.

Later, the police approached his father and apprised him of the consequences. On July 28, when Pratap came home, his father alerted the police, who immediately detained him.

“The girl has no role in the murder and we are on the lookout for the other four accused who helped Pratap in the kidnap and murder. The body will be exhumed on Monday,” the police added. Further investigations are on.