In a case of murder disguised as a road accident, the Kurubarahalli police have uncovered a conspiracy in which a woman was allegedly run over intentionally as part of a plan to rob her house. Five accused have been arrested by the Bengaluru City Police in connection with the case.

The incident took place on April 21 on Pipeline Road in Kurubarahalli under the limits of the Mahalakshmi Layout Police Station. Initially projected as a road accident, the case later turned out to be a pre-planned murder for financial gain following a detailed police investigation.

Police identified the arrested accused as Rakesh, Manjunath, Chetan, Pradeep and Yohan.

An elaborate plan

According to investigators, accused Chetan was acquainted with the victim, Vijayalakshmi, and had earlier borrowed money from her. Aware that she possessed cash and gold ornaments at home, he allegedly conspired with his associates to rob her.

As per the police, the accused executed a “cinematic-style” plan in which Rakesh intentionally rammed his motorcycle into Vijayalakshmi while she was walking on the road. Soon after the collision, the other accused arrived in an autorickshaw and pretended to rescue the injured woman by shifting her to a hospital.

During the commotion, accused Manjunath allegedly stole the house key from the victim’s purse while she was being admitted for treatment. He later went to her residence and attempted to commit theft. However, the neighbours questioned his presence, forcing him to flee after falsely claiming he had come to collect an Aadhaar card.

Misleading complaint

Meanwhile, Rakesh reportedly approached a traffic police station and filed a misleading complaint claiming that an unidentified vehicle had hit a woman known to him and that he had helped shift her to the hospital, allegedly in an attempt to divert suspicion.

The conspiracy came to light after the house owner lodged a separate complaint regarding an attempted theft at the victim’s residence while she was hospitalised. Investigators examined CCTV footage and uncovered the coordinated plot behind the so-called accident.

Police said Vijayalakshmi later succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

One accused dead

In another development, one of the arrested accused, Manjunath, reportedly died due to illness while in police custody and undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The police have registered a case of murder, robbery conspiracy and related offences, and further investigation is underway.