The Tumakuru district police have solved a murder case that was initially believed to be a road accident, arresting four persons, including the victim’s elder brother, for allegedly killing him to claim insurance benefits.

The victim, identified as Ramesh, was found dead near his motorcycle on the Hosanahalli-Badenahalli gate road under the jurisdiction of Pattanayakanahalli Police Station in Sira taluk on Saturday.

The incident was initially reported as a road accident. However, investigators grew suspicious after examining injuries on the body and reviewing the post-mortem report. Based on the findings, the police registered a murder case on Monday.

The arrested accused have been identified as Hanumantharaju alias Raju, 40, Lakshmikanta alias Praveen, 31, Naveen Kumar, 28, and M.D. Jilan alias Rayyan, 21.

According to the police, the prime accused, Hanumantharaju alias Raju, the victim’s elder brother, had allegedly purchased a ₹15 lakh life insurance policy in Ramesh’s name and had made himself the nominee. Investigators said the policy would provide higher compensation in the event of an accidental death, prompting the accused to plot the murder.

The police revealed that the accused, along with three associates, lured Ramesh to a secluded location on the night of June 19 under the pretext of conducting a religious ritual. They allegedly assaulted him, attempted to run him over with a car several times, and later strangled him with a battery-jumper wire.

To conceal the crime, the accused reportedly placed the body and motorcycle on the roadside and staged the scene to appear as a fatal traffic accident.

Police officials said the accused were traced and arrested within 12 hours of the murder case being registered.