Three weeks ago, the discovery of a burnt body at a coffee plantation in Karnataka’s Kodagu district uncovered a sinister murder plot.
Police have identified the body as that of Ramesh, a 54-year-old businessman who had been reported missing.
The investigation revealed that Ramesh's wife, Niharika, her lover Nikhil, and an accomplice, Ankur, executed a plot to murder Ramesh for his money and then disposed of his body across state borders. All three have been arrested.
Discovery of the Body
On October 8, police found a charred body at a coffee estate near Suntikoppa in Kodagu. After attempts to identify the body proved difficult, police scanned CCTV footage in the area, spotting a red Mercedes Benz, later traced to Ramesh, whose wife had recently filed a missing person's report. Police then contacted their counterparts in Telangana, where the car was registered.
The Investigation Unfolds
As the probe advanced, police began to suspect Niharika's involvement. Taken into custody, Niharika, 29, confessed and implicated her lover, Nikhil, a veterinarian, and Ankur, whom she had met in jail in Haryana. Niharika's complex history, marked by family troubles, a stint in jail for financial fraud, and later, her marriage to Ramesh, became key to understanding her motives.
The Motive and Murder
Police found that Niharika had become accustomed to a lavish lifestyle. After Ramesh refused her demand for ₹8 crore, she, Nikhil, and Ankur devised a plan to kill him. On October 1, they allegedly strangled Ramesh in Uppal, Hyderabad, took cash from his residence, and drove to Bengaluru, eventually traveling over 800 km to Kodagu. There, they set his body on fire in a coffee plantation and returned to Hyderabad, where Niharika filed a missing report for her husband.
Police Statement
Kodagu Police Chief Ramarajan described the case as challenging, stating, "The body had been burned 3-4 days before the complaint. We reviewed footage from 500 CCTV cameras up to Tumkur and traced a Telangana vehicle registered to Ramesh." He confirmed the arrest of Niharika, 29, Nikhil, 28, and Ankur, identifying Niharika as the primary suspect.
The chilling murder has now brought the suspects to justice, unveiling a dark tale of greed and betrayal.
