Karnataka: Woman arrested for allegedly murdering husband over Rs 8 crore demand

A 29-year-old woman, Niharika, has been arrested alongside her lover Nikhil and accomplice Ankur for the alleged murder of her husband, Ramesh, in Karnataka's Kodagu district. The police investigation began on October 8 when a charred body was discovered in a coffee plantation. Initially unidentifiable, authorities soon connected the remains to Ramesh after reviewing local CCTV footage.

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Key evidence emerged from a red Mercedes registered to Ramesh, which was seen in the area. Forensic examinations revealed that the body had been burned three to four days before Niharika filed a missing person report, leading investigators to suspect foul play. They established that Ramesh was murdered on October 1 in Uppal, Hyderabad, after Niharika demanded Rs 8 crore from him—a request he flatly refused.

After the murder, the trio allegedly drove Ramesh’s car to his apartment, stealing cash and property documents before disposing of his body over 800 kilometers away. They stopped for fuel during the journey and, upon reaching the coffee estate, covered the body with a blanket and set it on fire.

Niharika, who previously faced arrest in Haryana for financial fraud, had married Ramesh in what was their second marriage. Following the murder, she filed a missing person report in a bid to mislead the investigation. The case highlights the complexities of the investigation, with police reviewing footage from over 500 cameras to piece together the events.