Kinnigoli tragedy: Investigation reveals fiinancial and personal troubles

Team Udayavani, Nov 13, 2024, 8:25 AM IST

New developments have emerged in the case involving Karthik Bhat (32) from Pakshikere, who allegedly murdered his wife Priyanka (28) and their four-year-old son Hriday before taking his own life by jumping in front of a train. During the investigation, police discovered Karthik’s mobile phone in the toilet commode of their home, raising questions about the events leading up to the tragedy. Both Karthik’s and Priyanka’s phones were found there, potentially containing crucial information.

A troubling find in the home also added to the mystery: a family photo of Karthik, Priyanka, and their son was smeared with black ink. It remains unclear who marked the photo, making it difficult for investigators to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Karthik and Priyanka followed a regular routine, dropping their son at his kindergarten daily before Priyanka would attend a local gym. They would often stop by a hotel in Surathkal for coffee and breakfast, bringing food home to eat. Despite limited income, Karthik reportedly managed household expenses through personal loans, many of which were obtained from friends.

Further investigation revealed that Karthik had reportedly convinced a local businessman, Mohammad, to release his 10 sovereigns of gold, which was kept as collateral at a bank in Pakshikere. Karthik, who had previously served as a manager at a cooperative society, promised Mohammad a higher loan if he shifted the gold to the cooperative. Following Karthik’s advice, Mohammad retrieved his gold from the bank, which he then used to secure a ₹3.04 lakh loan from his cooperative society branch.

Suspicious of Karthik’s suicide, Mohammad later approached the cooperative to inquire about his gold. To his surprise, he was informed that the gold had already been released within four months. Police now suspect that Karthik may have either sold the gold elsewhere or used it for another transaction.

Karthik’s involvement in various business ventures led to financial troubles, and he was eventually dismissed from his role as a branch manager at the cooperative society due to alleged irregularities. Financial mismanagement and other improprieties reportedly led to his termination.

The police are now faced with challenges in unravelling the details of Karthik’s financial dealings and the fate of Mohammad’s gold. With Karthik no longer alive to clarify these matters, authorities are left with more questions than answers as they continue their investigation.