JOIN USThe plot to kill Lakshmana was hatched a week before his murder.
Lakshmana came out on bail from the Parappana Agrahara central prison on February 22, 2019. Rupesh, who was a history-sheeter in Rajagopala Nagar, was jailed in a theft case for three days while ‘Cat’ Raja was already in jail for robbery.
According to police, Rupesh nurtured a grudge against Lakshmana as the two had clashed in the past over property and turf-related disputes.
The other sore point between the two was a woman, who was courted by both gangsters. In the end, Lakshmana won her by flaunting his wealth and power.
Police learnt that while in jail, Rupesh conspired with ‘Cat’ Raja to eliminate Lakshmana. Rupesh and Raja came out on bail before Lakshmana.
The plot to eliminate Lakshmana was finalised when Rupesh, his associate Hemanth and ‘Cat’ Raja met at a dhaba at Budigere in Devanahalli on March 6.
Rupesh told Raja he had information that Lakshmana would be coming to RG Royal Hotel near ISKCON Temple, Mahalakshmi Layout, on the morning of March 7.
Armed with this information, the trio along with their associates formed two teams - one travelling in Scorpio and the other in a Tata Indica - and were planning to murder Lakshmana when he would arrive at the hotel. But they couldn’t execute this plan as Lakshmana quickly drove into the cellar of the hotel.
Around 12.30 pm, as Lakshmana drove out in his Toyota Innova Crysta, one of the groups in Scorpio, headed by Raja, intercepted his vehicle and hacked him to death, an investigating officer said. Soon after the attack, the assailants fled the spot.
Police said the ‘prefix ‘Cat’ for Raja was on account of his cat eyes. The accused is wanted in over 28 cases throughout the state including murder, dacoity, robbery and supari killings. He is wanted in connection with 5 to 6 cases in the city.