Bengaluru, Nov. 7:
In one of the most shocking criminal cases in Bengaluru’s recent history, a cab driver, identified as Indu Shekhar, has been arrested for allegedly murdering seven members of his extended family over a span of nearly 20 days. Police say the accused is suspected of carrying out the killings inside a rented one-room apartment in Rajajinagar before disposing of the bodies at different locations across Karnataka and the Tamil Nadu border.
According to the preliminary investigation, the accused had allegedly planned the murders over the past two months, reportedly driven by long-standing family disputes and resentment towards his wife’s relatives.
Police suspect that the first victim was his wife, Sunitha, who was allegedly killed on October 16. Investigators believe the accused subsequently lured other family members to the rented room on different pretexts, including social gatherings and a proposed pilgrimage, before allegedly murdering them one by one.
Investigators allege that after each killing, the accused cleaned the crime scene with chemicals and transported the bodies in his car, abandoning them at isolated locations including Nandi Hills, Skandagiri, Hassan district, Charmadi Ghat and areas near the Tamil Nadu border.
Police have also alleged that the accused misled an 11-year-old boy by claiming the bags containing the bodies were “garbage” and later abandoned the child in Bengaluru before fleeing.
To avoid suspicion, investigators say the accused allegedly used one victim’s mobile phone to send messages to relatives, falsely claiming that the family had gone on an “All India tour” and would remain out of contact.
The case came to light after family members filed missing-person complaints at Srirampura Police Station. During the investigation, police found that the mobile phones of the missing persons were active around Bengaluru, leading investigators to question the accused. His interrogation reportedly revealed crucial details of the alleged crime.
Police said one victim’s body has been recovered so far, while special teams led by senior officers are continuing search operations in multiple locations to trace the remaining bodies.
Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and additional evidence is being collected. The allegations against the accused will be subject to judicial proceedings, and his guilt will ultimately be determined by the court.
