Belagavi Police have arrested a 38-year-old auto driver on charges of killing a 42-year-old woman in the city on Wednesday.
The accused, Santosh Jadhav, a resident of Veerabhadra Nagar, allegedly assaulted Mahadevi Bhagappa Kariyananavar from Sadashiv Nagar, who worked as a cook in a local mess. The two were known to each other, and according to police, Jadhav had lent her ₹10,000 nearly a year ago, which remained unpaid.
On Tuesday night, the two reportedly got into a heated argument near Lakshmi Complex in Sadashiv Nagar over the unpaid amount. During the altercation, the accused is said to have struck the woman on the head with a rod, resulting in her death.
Belagavi Police Commissioner Borase Bhushan Gulabrao said the case was solved within hours. “We received a call around 10 p.m. about a woman lying unresponsive on the road. A police team led by DCPs Narayan Baramani and Niranjan Raje Urs rushed to the scene. Forensic experts, fingerprint teams, and a dog squad were called in, and key evidence was collected,” he said.
The accused was traced using both human and technical intelligence. Commissioner Gulabrao praised the swift response and effective investigation, noting that strong evidence, including eyewitness accounts, has been secured.
Cash rewards were given to members of the investigation team, including officers Usman Awati and Santosh Satyanayak, for their efforts in cracking the case promptly.
