Police unravel gruesome murder plot as burnt body leads to businessman’s wife, two accomplices

Three weeks ago, a charred body discovered in a coffee plantation in Kodagu, Karnataka, unveiled a murder plot reaching over 800 kilometers from Hyderabad to the remote plantation. The victim, Ramesh, a 54-year-old businessman, was found to have been murdered by his wife, Niharika, and her accomplices, Nikhil and Ankur, as part of a sinister plan to claim his wealth.

The Discovery

On October 8, Kodagu police stumbled upon a badly burned body wrapped in a blanket in a coffee estate near Suntikoppa. Unable to identify it initially, authorities reviewed hundreds of CCTV footages from the area, spotting a red Mercedes Benz that raised suspicions. The car was traced to Ramesh, whose wife, Niharika, had recently filed a missing person report. Detectives coordinated with Telangana police, where the car was registered, to connect the dots.

The Investigation

The investigation soon revealed Niharika (29) as a suspect. When interrogated, she confessed to conspiring with Nikhil, a veterinary doctor, and Ankur, a friend she had met in prison, to kill her husband. Police learned of her complex past, including a troubled childhood, a criminal record for financial fraud, and a previous stint in jail where she first crossed paths with Ankur.

Motive and Crime

Niharika’s marriage to Ramesh was his second and her gateway to a lavish lifestyle. However, when she demanded ₹8 crore from him—a request he refused—it sparked the murder plot. Alongside her lover, Nikhil, and Ankur, she devised a plan to kill Ramesh to claim his wealth. Police allege that on October 1, Ramesh was choked to death in his Hyderabad home. The trio then took cash, drove the body over 800 kilometers to Kodagu, and set it ablaze in a secluded plantation.

Technical Evidence

Kodagu’s police chief, Ramarajan, highlighted the complexities of the case, especially given the lack of immediate clues. Through painstaking scrutiny of over 500 CCTV cameras, detectives tracked the red Mercedes from Hyderabad to Tumkur, ultimately linking it to Ramesh and the suspects.

The case underscores the critical role of technology and collaboration in solving complex crimes, with all three suspects now in custody.