BENGALURU: The investigations into the Soladevanahalli shootout case revealed that the 78-year-old father of Rajesh, who shot the advocate Amith Keshavamurthy, tried to save his son by advising him to take care of his two young daughters while he would surrender to the police claiming that he had shot Amith.
However, his plan fell flat as the police did not believe his version, more so as the forensic tests and gunpowder residue on Rajesh's fingers proved that it was Rajesh who had opened fire from the licensed revolver.
Explaining how the incidents unfolded on Friday, an official said, "When Rajesh had called his wife, he had told him that she will be in a meeting till 3 pm and not to disturb her. However, the GPS installed in the car revealed that she was going towards Hesaraghatta Road. Rajesh, who knew that Amith was staying in MEI Layout close to Hesaraghatta, quickly guessed that she was going to meet her boyfriend. Deciding to catch them red-handed, he along with his father went in an Innova car to track down Shruthi and Amith."
“Near Acharya College, the father and son duo found the car, in which Shruthi and Amith were sitting. As per Rajesh's statement, he tried to pull Amith out of the car but Amith reportedly assaulted him. Enraged by this, he pulled out the revolver and shot him. Also, he was trying to shoot his wife, who was sitting in the driver's seat. But, his father dragged him and managed to grab the revolver from him," the official added.
Before coming to the police station to surrender, the father and son had an argument over who should surrender to the police. "As Rajesh had two young daughters, his father Gopala Krishna did not want their lives to be ruined. He was worried about their future and thus tried to convince his son. He told Rajesh that he was already old but the latter has a long way to go. The father advised the son to not spoil his daughters' lives. Rajesh unwillingly followed what his father had advised. However, the age and fitness of the 78-year-old man did not convince us that he had shot Amith," the official explained.
"When the FSL experts conducted tests, the chemical residue of the gun shot was found on Rajesh's hands. When he was grilled, he admitted that he had shot Amith. During the probe, Gopala Krishna said that he was aware of Shruthi's extra-marital affair with Amith from the last six months. He had spoken to her and told her it would not bring good name to her and the family. However, she had continued the affair and finally it saw a tragic end," the official said.
Rajesh helped build her career
The police said that when Rajesh married Shruthi, she had just completed PUC. "But he wanted her to study and enrolled her for graduation. Later, she also completed post graduation. Rajesh wanted his wife to write IAS/KAS exams and was encouraging her to prepare for competitive exams. Two years ago, she had got PDO's job and he had told her to join but not to stick to it and aim at passing IAS/KAS exams," an officer said.
Rajesh reportedly owned property worth over Rs. 150 crore. He was keen that his wife to become a government officer. "As he knew that she loves bike riding, he had gifted her a bike worth several lakhs of rupees. There were not many differences between the couple. Even Shruthi was good to him for many years. Its only after she came in contact with Amith, the relationship soured and differences cropped up between the couple," the officer said, adding that Shruthi had earned a good name at workplace and she helped some of her colleagues financially.
Amith’s wife tipped off Rajesh’s family?
There is also information to the police that it was Amith's wife, who first came to know about the illicit affair. "There is information that she had contacted Rajesh's family and asked them to advise Shruthi to stay away from her husband. This had spoilt both the families and all the problems started from there. We are yet to question Amith's wife in this regard," the officer said Amith had reportedly pursued higher education from London and was practicing with her father, a renowned criminal lawyer, the officer added.
The last message
It is also come to the notice of the police that Shruthi, after the death of Amith, was devastated. "After Amith was declared dead at the hospital, she checked into a room in the lodge nearby the hospital. Before hanging herself, she sent a text message to her parents. She had asked them to forgive her for all the mistakes and also forgive her for taking the hasty step. They tried to contact her but she did not pick the call," the police said.
