Bengaluru 7 murders audio surfaces; child’s scripted answers raised alarm: Report
Police probe an audio clip in which a boy, allegedly coached by the accused, misled relatives about missing family members, including his parents
Indushekar, the accused in the Rajajinagar multiple-murder case, allegedly used the two minor boys—one of whom he allegedly later killed and the other survived—to prevent the arousal of any suspicion from other relatives on the whereabouts of his victims.
According to a report in The New Indian Express, the police have now accessed an audio recording of a phone call made by one of the relatives who smelled something fishy. The audio reportedly features a conversation between a relative of Nalini, Indushekar’s sister-in-law and one of the victims, and her son.
The relative had reportedly called to ask the boy about his parents, Shankar and Nalini. Shankar was a brother of Indushekar’s wife Sunita, both of whom were allegedly killed along with Nalini.
A conversation that aroused suspicion
In the audio, the boy can reportedly be heard telling his relative that his parents were away on a trip and would return after three months. He can reportedly also be heard telling them that Puneeth (7)—his cousin who was also killed—was with them as well.
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However, when the relative insists on talking to Nalini, the boy can reportedly be heard abruptly ending the conversation by telling his relative that he has to “board a bus”. He also reportedly says that Puneeth is also travelling with him on the bus.
This conversation was one of the several things that aroused Nalini’s relatives’ suspicion. They were the ones to contact the police, which eventually blew the lid off the brazen murders.
Murders most foul
Indushekar, a 52-year-old cab driver, allegedly bludgeoned seven of his relatives to death with a grindstone at his Bashyam Circle home over a span of a fortnight before dumping the bodies in different locations in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Besides Sunita, Shankar, Nalini, and Puneeth, his other victims included Sunita and Shankar’s other brother Shivakumar, his wife Divya, and Sunita’s mother Roopavathi. Puneeth was Shivakumar and Divya’s son.
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After allegedly murdering his victims, Indushekar allegedly kept their mobile phones and answered calls from concerned relatives to prevent any suspicion.
Audio handed over to police
After allegedly murdering Shivakumar and Divya, he apparently kept Puneeth alive initially so that he could respond to calls from relatives, like the other boy.
While he allegedly murdered Puneeth subsequently, the other boy escaped miraculously. Indushekar allegedly took him along as he disposed of the bodies and used him to answer calls to conceal the murders.
The relatives have reportedly handed over the audio recording to the police and its authenticity is under scrutiny.
Cops strive for watertight case
In another development, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of North Division has reportedly been appointed as the Investigation Officer (IO) in the case. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh has confirmed that all seven bodies have been found and several important pieces of evidence in the case are being probed.
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He said the police have sought the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor to ensure effective prosecution and a trial in a fast-track court. The team is busy collecting forensic and circumstantial evidence to establish the motive, identify the involvement of others, if any, and determine the weapons allegedly used in the crime, he added.