Belgaum: A man from Belgaum district has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife and attempting to disguise the crime as a road accident so that he could continue a relationship with a widow from his village.
The victim, Sakkubai Patayat of Shindikurabet village in Gokak taluk, was allegedly killed by her husband, Santosh Patayat. According to police, Santosh had been in a relationship with a widow from the same village for the past four years and wanted to live with her.
Police said Santosh took his wife to the Chamundeshwari Temple in Marakumbi village of Bailhongal taluk during the ongoing Adhika Masa. While returning from the temple, he allegedly mixed rat poison and powdered bangle pieces into a soft drink and gave it to her, claiming it was temple prasadam.
When Sakkubai began losing consciousness, Santosh allegedly strangled her to death on the roadside. To cover up the murder, he allegedly placed a motorcycle on her body and tried to portray the incident as a fatal road accident.
Investigators became suspicious during the probe, and a post-mortem examination conducted at Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) reportedly revealed that the death was a case of murder rather than an accident.
During questioning, Santosh allegedly confessed to the crime, stating that he wanted to continue his relationship with his lover. He has since been arrested and lodged in Hindalga Jail.
Police are continuing their investigation and are also examining whether the widow had any role in the crime.
