Karkala: Man murdered by wife, her lover in chilling conspiracy

Team Udayavani, Oct 25, 2024, 6:38 PM IST

A sensational murder case occurred in Karkala Taluk where  woman and her paramour allegedly poisoned her husband, leading to his death.

The victim has been identified as Balakrishna (44) from Marne village in Karkala taluk.

Police revealed that Balakrishna’s wife, Prathima, and her alleged lover, Dileep Hegde, conspired to murder him by suffocating himin the early hours of October 20.

The Ajekar police have arrested Prathima and Dileep Hegde, who reportedly carried out the murder at Balakrishna’s family residence in Ajekar.

 What Happened?

Balakrishna, who had recently been unwell, was taken to various hospitals in Karkala, Manipal, Mangalore, and Bangalore. He was discharged after treatment and returned home on October 19. Around 3:30 a.m. on October 20, family members were alarmed by loud cries from his room. When Balakrishna’s father, Sanjeev, checked on him, he found his son unresponsive. Later that morning, a doctor from the Ajekar Government Hospital confirmed that Balakrishna had passed away.

Suspecting foul play due to the unusual circumstances of his sudden illness, the family filed a complaint with the police.

Instagram Affair Leads to Tragic End

Prathima, who ran a beauty parlor in Ajekar, was active on Instagram, where she shared reels, some of which included her husband. However, during this time, she met Dileep Hegde from Karkala on Instagram. Their acquaintance developed into a friendship and, ultimately, an extramarital affair. Concerned that Balakrishna might discover and hinder their relationship, the couple allegedly conspired to eliminate him.

According to police sources, Dileep provided Prathima with a toxic substance, instructing her to mix it with Balakrishna’s food. Prathima reportedly administered the poison several times, which left Balakrishna increasingly unwell and bedridden. Eventually, Prathima and Dileep decided on a final plan to end Balakrishna’s life.

Around 1:30 a.m. on October 20, Dileep visited Prathima’s house. Together, they allegedly suffocated Balakrishna by pressing a bedsheet over his face, leading to his death. Both suspects are now in police custody.

The murder has sparked significant attention due to Prathima’s social media presence, where she once posted reels with her husband. Ironically, the woman who once shared videos declaring her love for Balakrishna is now accused of conspiring with her lover to take his life.