Bengaluru: A former JD (S) corporator, his wife and seven others were arrested in connection with the murder of a BJP worker Chikkathimmegowda by the Kamakshipalya police. Investigations revealed that the former corporator and his wife were upset after Chikkathimmegowda left JD(S) and supported BJP during last BBMP elections. Thus they gave Rs 30 lakh supari to rowdy elements.

The accused former corporator, Govindegowda, 58, represented Hegganahalli ward and is a resident of Lakshmana Nagar in Sunkadakatte. The other accused are his wife Varamahalakshmi, 47, Manikanta alias Kacchins, 24, Harish B., 24, Manikanta alias Yogesh, 25, all the three residents of Sunkadakatte, Suresh alias RX Suri, 24, of M C Layout in Vijayanagar, Mathew alias Ajay, 19, of Chandra Layout, Sanaullah, 18, of Kachohalli on Magadi Road and Yuvaraj alias Yuva, 27, of Kengunte in Mallatthalli.

On November 8, around 9.20 pm, while the BJP activist was going on a bike, along with his friend Naganna, they were waylaid at Gajanana Nagar at Sunkadakatte by bike borne assailants, and killed Chikkathimmegowda. His brother-in-law Rajashekhar had filed a complaint stating that Govindegowda and his wife were behind the murder. The police formed special teams to probe the case.

During investigations, it was found that the accused couple had gone absconding after the murder. As part of the probe, the police verified the call details of Govindegowda and his wife and it was established that they were in touch with RX Suri, a rowdy sheeter, from the last few months. Based on several clues, the accused persons were arrested.

“When interrogated, Govindegowda and Varamahalakshmi confessed that Chikkathimmegowda had worked for them in the earlier BBMP elections. In the BBMP elections in 2015, Govidegowda had fielded his wife from the Hegganahalli ward and got defeated. Chikkathimmegowda had left JDS and worked for BJP candidate. Varamahalakshmi started nursing a grudge against Chikkathimmegowda. Further, Varamahalakshmi’s nephew, Suresh Kumar, had reportedly cheated her to the tune of `1 crore and he had recently joined with Chikkathimmegowda. Fearing that both would finish them politically, the couple hatched a plot to eliminate Chikkathimmegowda,” the police said.

They allegedly approached RX Suri and gave him supari (contract) to kill Chikkathimmegowda for `30 lakh. They had also paid an advance amount of Rs 5 lakh. Though they struck a deal with Suri about three months ago, they could not finish Chikkathimmegowda, as Suri met with an accident and was bedridden. After he recovered, he roped in the other accused for the job. About 15 days before the murder, the assailants had tried to murder Chikkathimmegowda, who had escaped. However, finally he was murdered on November 8, the police added.

After the murder, the couple had paid Rs 10 lakh to Suri and team and had gone absconding. The police have seized weapons, bikes and mobile phones used to commit the offence.