BENGALURU: A 26-year-old auto driver has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 32-year-old partner, Pradeep, in a single-bedroom flat at BTM Layout on May 30.
Pradeep’s body was found in a highly decomposed condition in his flat on June 2. The accused has been identified as is Rakshith Gowda, a resident of Nagarabhavi and from Thyamagondlu, near Nelamangala.
Pradeep, a merchandiser, was a cross-dresser. The apartment’s caretaker Suresh had opened the door with a spare key following complaints of foul smell emanating from there. He found the body and alerted police. Police rushed to the spot and found Pradeep dead in a woman’s attire. A team headed by ACP Sudheer M Hegde and inspector Paul Priyakumar was formed to crack the case. Police verified CCTV footage of the building and examined at least 36 persons who had visited the apartment on May 30. They zeroed in on Gowda and detained him.
Gowda is said to have told police that he was in contact with Pradeep for a year and often visited his flat. “Gowda came to Pradeep’s flat on the evening of May 30 and they spent some private moments. Pradeep objected to Gowda’s rudeness and got angry when the latter was not listening to him. He took a knife and attacked Gowda, who sustained an injury to his hand. Gowda eventually overpowered Pradeep, snatched the knife and stabbed him in the abdomen and hands. He fled on realising Pradeep was dead,” an officer said.
