Hans News Service Belagavi

Policein Belagavi district have cracked the murder of a former serviceman allegedly killed as part of a conspiracy to claim insurance benefits worth nearly Rs 2 crore, arresting nine persons, including the victim’s wife and officials linked to a forensic laboratory.

The victim, identified as Sandeep Kalagouda Manjargi (46), a resident of Ghodageri village in Hukkeri taluk, had insurance policies with HDFC and State Bank of India. According to police, the accused allegedly plotted to project his death as the result of a road accident in order to claim the insurance amount.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said the investigation revealed that the victim’s wife, Suma Manjargi, allegedly conspired with her alleged lover Pundalik Dombar and others to murder Sandeep and secure the insurance payout.

The arrested accused include Suma Manjargi, Pundalik Dombar, RMP doctor Basavaraj Bhasme, Food and Drug Administration employee Ashok Gujanal, forensic laboratory clerk Appasaheb Naik, Laboratory Assistant Channayya Adaviswamimath, Senior Scientific Officer P.N. Nagaraj, and two associates of Pundalik, Sachin Selar and Rahul Jogi.

Police said Sandeep had sustained injuries after falling from a motorcycle on March 13 and was initially treated at a hospital in Hukkeri before being shifted to a hospital in Ghataprabha. Investigators alleged that while he was undergoing treatment, Suma and Pundalik administered poison through a saline bottle and also gave him sleeping pills, resulting in his death on March 15.

Following the death, the accused allegedly attempted to portray the case as a natural death resulting from complications after a road accident and lodged a misleading complaint with the Yamakanamaradi police station.

During the investigation, police uncovered an alleged effort to suppress evidence by influencing the post-mortem and forensic examination process. According to the SP, the accused had allegedly enlisted the help of forensic laboratory personnel and others to ensure that traces of poison did not appear in the forensic report.

Ramarajan described it as the first case in the state in which forensic laboratory personnel were allegedly involved in manipulating scientific evidence in return for money. A case has been registered and all nine accused have been remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway.