Cab driver detained for home-alone woman's murder

JP Nagar police reportedly arrested a man involved in the murder of a home-alone woman recently.

The arrested is said to be Arun, 23, a cab driver and a resident of Doresanipalya. However, DCP (South) H S Revanna said the suspect, Arun, is one of the eight persons detained for questioning. “After a detailed questioning, the police have taken Arun into custody and are interrogating him to gather critical information. We will arrest the assailant in a couple of days,” the DCP said.

Revanna said the preliminary investigation indicates that the murder took place for gain, but the exact reason for the murder would be ascertained only after the interrogation is over.

Jyothilakshmi, 33, was a resident of Venkatadri Layout in JP Nagar and was a Human Resource manager at a private company on Bannerghatta Road. She was married to Hemachandra, a software engineer in a multinational company, eight years ago.

In 2011, both decided to part ways. While Hemachandra remarried, Jyothilakshmi obtained the custody of their daughter. She moved to a rented accommodation in JP Nagar last year, said sources in the police department.

The sources said Arun met the victim, Jyothilakshmi, at a bakery near her house. On learning about her background, he allegedly plotted her murder as he was in a financial crisis. He came to her house with some food on that day, locked the house from inside and attacked Jyothilakshmi and her daughter Jagruthi, the sources said. On hearing some noise, a neighbour rang the calling bell. In panic, Arun switched off the lights.

He stood there for some time and escaped after the neighbour departed, said the sources. Arun, who wanted to take away valuables from the house, failed to do so as he was afraid of being caught, added the sources.

Police Inspector B S Angadi said the police gathered vital inputs about him from Doresanipalya, before taking him to custody.

He said Arun discontinued education after he failed to clear PUC and wanted to lead a lavish lifestyle. 

The murder came to light a day after the crime, when a neighbour went to the house and found Jyothilakshmi’s body lying on the floor and that of Jagruthi next to her.