Gadag/Hubballi (Karnataka): A man hired a gang of hitmen to get his parents murdered in Karnataka's Gadag over a property dispute, with the crime taking an even uglier turn when the culprits ended up killing four other people in the house.
Vinayak Bakale, 31, attempted to get his father Prakash Bakale and his step-mother Sunanda killed, but the contract killers mistook guests in the house for them and ended up murdering the trio, along with Vinayak's step-brother Karthik. The murders took place in the wee hours of April 19.
Prakash and Sunanda, who is Gadag-Betagiri Municipal Council Vice President, managed to save their lives after locking themselves up in a room. Briefing media persons about the shocking case on Monday, North Zone IGP Vikas Kumar said, "Vinayak Bakale is the one who gave 'supari' (contract killing) to murder his father Prakash Bakale and his stepmother."
''Vinayak Bakale had given a 'supari' of Rs 65 lakh to Fairoz Qazi and his team to kill his father and stepmother. He had given Rs 2 lakh as advance. Recently, Prakash Bakale and Vinayak had a business dispute. A few months ago, Vinayak sold some property without his father's permission. Prakash got tired of Vinayak's behaviour and had a quarrel with him. Vinayak planned to kill his father, stepmother Sunanda and brother Karthik for opposing the sale of property," the IGP said.
Police officials said that the hitmen murdered Vinayak's stepbrother Karthik Bakale (27), and Prakash's relatives Parashuram Hadimani (55), his wife Lakshmi Hadimani (45), and daughter Akanksha Hadimani (16). "The four were stabbed to death in the wee hours of April 19. Prakash and Sunanda survived because they informed the police without opening the door of their room," they added.
The three guests who, as fate had it, were at the wrong place at the wrong time, were originally from Koppal, and had visited Prakash to attend Karthik's engagement ceremony.
According to police, footage of the culprits escaping from the spot was caught on CCTV, and it helped police to apprehend them. The IGP said that the police arrested the accused within 72 hours of the crime. The accused have been identified the accused contract killers as Fairoz Qazi (29) of Gadag city, Jishan Qazi (24) of Gadag, Sahil Qazi (19) of Meeraj, Sohel Qazi (19), Sultan Sheikh (23) of Meeraj, Mahesh Salonke (21) and Wahid Bepari (21).
The IGP added that within three days, the investigation team led by Gadag SP BS Nemagowda cracked the case and the accused are being interrogated for further information. DG, IGP Alok Mohan said, for cracking the case swiftly, announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for the police officials investigating the case.
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