Tumakuru: A gruesome case of murder in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district ended with the arrest of a dentist and his two aides, accused of killing and dismembering 42-year-old homemaker B Lakshmidevi, scattering her remains across 19 locations.
The crime came to light when, on August 7, a stray dog was spotted carrying a human arm in Chimpuganahalli, leading to a search operation by the police.
Here's What the Investigation Revealed
Officers initially struggled to identify the victim, but jewellery on the recovered limbs suggested it was not a robbery. A missing persons list led them to Lakshmidevi, last seen leaving her daughter Tejasvi’s home on August 3. Her severed head was found two days later, confirmed by her husband.
According to the police, the suspicion turned to a white SUV spotted with mismatched number plates near the dump sites. The vehicle traced back to an agriculturist, Satish, whose phone was switched off during the murder window. Under questioning, Satish admitted the SUV actually belonged to Ramachandraiah S, a Tumakuru dentist married to Tejasvi.
Motive, Method and a Grisly Disposal
The police revealed that the 47-year-old dentist kept deep resentment towards Lakshmidevi, accusing her of interfering in his marriage and even pressuring her daughter into sex work, a claim he reportedly repeated in custody.
Fearing she would “destroy his family”, Ramachandraiah allegedly began plotting six months earlier, buying the SUV in Satish’s name and hiring Satish and another man, Kiran, for Rs 4 lakh each.
On August 3, Ramachandraiah allegedly intercepted Lakshmidevi, offering her a ride. Satish and Kiran, hidden inside, strangled her before driving to farmland in Kolala. The next day, police allege, Ramachandraiah used sharp tools to cut the body “at joints” in what officers described as a “professional” manner, scattering the parts in remote locations to mask the crime.
Superintendent of Police Ashok KV confirmed all three men have been arrested. The search for remaining evidence is reportedly undergoing.
