In a disturbing turn of events, the discovery of a burnt body at a coffee plantation in Karnataka’s Kodagu district has unraveled a chilling murder plot, revealing how a businessman’s wife, her lover, and another accomplice allegedly conspired to kill him for financial gain. The victim, identified as 54-year-old businessman Ramesh, went missing weeks before police uncovered the crime, which involved a cross-state journey to dispose of his body.
Discovery of Burnt Body Sparks Investigation
The case began on October 8 when Kodagu police discovered a charred body at a coffee plantation near Suntikoppa. With no immediate clues to identify the victim, authorities scoured CCTV footage to track vehicles passing through the area, eventually focusing on a red Mercedes Benz registered under Ramesh’s name. Curiously, his wife, Niharika, had recently filed a missing person report for him. Police traced the car’s registration to Telangana and began to suspect Niharika’s involvement after further investigation.
Uncovering the Plot and Key Suspects
As authorities intensified their probe, they detained Niharika, 29, whose interrogation led to shocking revelations. She confessed to conspiring with her lover, Nikhil, a veterinary doctor, and another accomplice, Ankur, to murder Ramesh. Niharika’s life had been marked by hardship, losing her father young and facing legal troubles, including prison time for financial fraud where she met Ankur.
After her release, she married Ramesh, and the two enjoyed a high-end lifestyle funded by his business success. However, tensions grew when Ramesh allegedly refused her demand for ₹8 crore, spurring her to plot his murder alongside Nikhil and Ankur.
A Calculated Crime and Grisly Disposal
According to police findings, the group executed their plan on October 1, strangling Ramesh to death in Uppal, Hyderabad. After taking cash from his home, the trio drove over 800 km to Kodagu, where they set his body ablaze at a secluded coffee estate, covering it with a blanket to mask their tracks. After disposing of the body, they returned to Hyderabad, where Niharika filed a missing report for Ramesh to cover up the crime.
Painstaking Police Efforts Lead to Arrests
Kodagu police chief Ramarajan highlighted the complexity of the case, noting the challenges posed by the severely burnt body. “Initially, the evidence was minimal, but we managed to trace the suspicious vehicle movement in the area between midnight and early morning,” he explained. “Our team examined footage from 500 CCTV cameras spanning Kodagu to Tumkur, ultimately identifying Ramesh’s car from Telangana.”
With substantial technical evidence, police successfully linked Niharika, Nikhil, and Ankur to the crime. Authorities have now detained all three suspects, who face serious charges for their alleged roles in this meticulously planned and heinous crime.