Retd banker's murder: Police pick up 2 men in Bangalore Rural

The City police on Friday picked up two men in Bangalore Rural district for the murder of retired banker Uday Raj Singh, taking the number of persons detained to four. 

Three suspects were caught by policemen and passersby just as they were fleeing the crime scene on Tuesday. 

The men have been picked up on the inputs given by the three suspected killers apprehended from the scene of crime.

The four men picked up in the last two days are likely to be arrested formally, sources in the Siddapura police said. A police officer confirmed that the four men might be arrested for their possible role in the murder. 

A gang of seven men had murdered Singh and injured his wife Susheela at their Wilson Garden home on Tuesday. The suspects were at the house on the pretext of purchasing an antique necklace from Singh. Of them, two are said to be MBA graduates and another the son of an ex-serviceman. One is a driver and another SSLC pass-out. 

Meanwhile, police are questioning some people in the City. The four killers who managed to flee the spot changed their hideouts frequently, making it difficult for police to track them down, an officer said. 

In September 2006, Singh had sold the necklace to a man named Chalapathi who had made a token payment of Rs 20,000. But he refused to pay the balance and even threatened Singh. The Wilson Garden police arrested him after Singh made a complaint.

While Chalapathi returned the necklace, police asked Singh to be cautious and ensure its safekeeping, an inspector said. 

The killers had been negotiating with Singh about the necklace for quite some time. Initially, Singh demanded Rs 15 crore for it but settled down at Rs seven crore. 

Later, however, he changed his mind and felt that the necklace would fetch him more than Rs seven crore in the international market its antiquity. 

The City police valued the ornament between Rs 40 and 50 lakh after consulting the experts. 

The necklace was purchased by Singh’s father who was a man of position during the British Raj. Singh had asked his relatives and friends to help him find a suitable buyer. The necklace is a heavy ornament in Rajasthani style, with gold laid with uncut diamonds. Singh’s mother had gifted it to Susheela at her wedding. 

Singh and Susheela belonged to different castes and had married after courtship.