Four arrested after man gives supari for wife’s murder, makes it look like an accident

The death of a woman in a vehicle accident near Dharwad has turned out to be a case of supari killing involving her husband who connived with four men to make it look like an accident.

Four of the five accused have been arrested now.

Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya told presspersons that in an accident reported near Amminabhavi on Saundatti Road on February 26, 42-year-old Lalita Hattarki of Somapur was killed.

Initial investigation showed it to be an accident. However, video footage of the accident captured on the dashcam of a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus forced the police to suspect it to be foul play.

Taking the case seriously, the Superintendent of Police constituted five teams to investigate the matter. And, after interrogation, those involved spilled the beans leading to the arrest of four, including the husband of the victim, Udaykumar Hattaraki, of Narendra village.

Mr. Arya said that the accused Udaykumar gave a supari contract to Nagappa Madivalappa Padekar of Garag, Abhishek Varagannavar of Nichchanaki and Nagaraj Madivalappa Uppin of Dodawad to kill his wife Lalita.

These four have now been remanded in judicial custody and the police are on the look-out for another accused who is absconding.

The police have recovered an SUV used in the crime, four mobile phones and ₹20,000 in cash.

Udaykumar married Lalita in the year 2000 and after a few years of domestic discord, Lalita went to live with her parents. Later, she filed for divorce.

Recently, the case was resolved in the Lok Adalat with Udaykumar being asked to part with 1.5 acres of land to Lalita for maintenance.

However, the accused, who was unwilling to part with the land, gave supari contract for ₹40 lakh to get her killed.

According to the plan, Udaykumar called Lalita to Saundatti Road for discussing the matter and got his associates to mow her down using a vehicle without number plate.

The police have managed to recover the vehicle and the accused with the help of video footage.