Tiff over cigarettes leads to the killing of a techie in Bengaluru
The police said the incident occurred around 4.10 am on May 10 near Konanakunte Cross.
The deceased has been identified as Sanjay H N, 29, while his injured friend is Chetan Pujamath, 30.
Both worked remotely for different software companies.
According to the police, Sanjay and Pujamath had stepped out for a late dinner after working from home.
They stopped at a roadside tea stall on their Yamaha R15 motorcycle.
Shortly after, the accused, Pratheek H, 32, a sales manager at a Maida factory on Magadi Road, arrived at the same stall in a Hyundai Creta with his wife, returning from a birthday party.
Pratheek reportedly asked Pujamath to fetch him cigarettes. When Pujamath refused, an argument broke out.
Pratheek stepped out of the car and began abusing Pujamath.
Sanjay intervened and pushed him away, attempting to de-escalate the situation.
Pratheek's wife then pulled him back into the car, but he allegedly continued threatening the duo, saying he 'wouldn't let them go'.
Moments later, as Sanjay rode off with Pujamath on the pillion, they attempted a U-turn on Kanakapura Main Road.
Pratheek allegedly accelerated and rammed into their bike.
Pujamath landed on the car's bonnet and suffered minor injuries, while Sanjay was flung into the air and landed on the footpath with severe head injuries.
Pratheek fled the scene, but Pujamath managed to rush Sanjay to a hospital. Sanjay succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
Lokesh B Jagalasar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), confirmed that the case has been upgraded from attempted murder to murder.
Pratheek has been arrested and produced before a court.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Indian Express
Haryana man arrested over Rs 1-crore extortion bid by posing as notorious gangster: Cops
A 50-year-old man's plan to make quick money by impersonating a notorious gangster and threatening a Delhi-based businessman to extort Rs 1 crore was foiled with his arrest on Saturday, said police. He was allegedly helped by an associate of the businessman to execute his plan. Identified as Sanjay from Sonipat in Haryana, the accused was allegedly trying to pose as gangster Naveen Bali. He was arrested after a handwritten note bearing the businessman's mobile number was found tucked in his pocket, said police. 'During the investigation, it was observed that the accused used a distinct Haryanvi accent. With the help of technical surveillance and manual inputs, a suspect named Sanjay, a native of Rampur Kundal village in Sonipat was zeroed in. A trap was laid, and in a swift and well-coordinated operation, the joint team successfully apprehended the accused…During his cursory search, a handwritten slip containing the mobile number of the businessman was recovered from his possession,' said DCP North West Bhisham Singh. Shaken after he received threats, the businessman had approached the Adarsh Nagar police station on July 24. He claimed that he had received a phone call from an unknown number on July 3. The caller claimed to be gangster Naveen Bali and demanded that he pay Rs 1 crore in four days or face serious consequences. The businessman initially brushed it off as a prank. On July 20, however, he was again threatened. Realising that this was no joke, the man then turned to the police. Sanjay had no criminal record but had worked in multiple private firms across Delhi, said officers. Allegedly dissatisfied with his earnings and influenced by crime reports about extortion cases, involving gangsters, he decided to try his hand at extortion. He roped in a business associate of the complainant, who allegedly provided information to make the threats more credible. 'Before he could cause any actual harm, the alert police team successfully foiled his plan and apprehended him. The accused has admitted to making extortion calls, including one to the businessman. Further investigation is in progress to identify any associates or past similar offenses,' said DCP Singh.
News18
a day ago
- News18
Man held for posing as gangster to extort Rs 1 crore from Delhi businessman
New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) A man has been arrested for allegedly posing as gangster Naveen Bali and demanding Rs 1 crore from a Delhi-based businessman, police said on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Bhisham Singh said, 'On July 24, the complainant approached the Adarsh Nagar police station and reported that he had received a threatening phone call earlier this month. In his complaint, the businessman said he received a call on July 3 from an unknown number." The caller, identified as gangster Naveen Bali, demanded Rs 1 crore, warning of dire consequences if the demand was not fulfilled within four days, he added. Initially dismissing the call as a prank, the complainant ignored it. However, on July 20 at around 8:28 pm, he received another call from the same number, during which the demand was repeated, the DCP said. Alarmed by the persistent threats, the complainant finally approached the police. A case under section 308(4) (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered, and an investigation was initiated, the DCP added. During the investigation, police noted that the caller spoke in a distinct Haryanvi accent. Through technical surveillance and manual intelligence, the team zeroed in on Sanjay as a suspect. A trap was laid, and he was arrested, police said. 'During his interrogation, Sanjay confessed to impersonating gangster Naveen Bali to demand money from the businessman. He revealed that he had earlier worked in several private offices in Delhi, but had left due to dissatisfaction with the salary," DCP Singh said. The accused, identified as Sanjay (50), conspired with Rahul Rathi, the victim's associate, who was familiar with his business operations, police said. During the arrest, the police recovered a handwritten slip with the targeted businessman's phone number. No previous criminal involvement has been found against Sanjay so far, police added. Further investigation into the matter is underway. PTI SSJ SMV HIG view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 18:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Minister Faces Non-Bailable Warrant In 2021 Huzurabad Bypoll Code Violation
A special court in Hyderabad has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay, for his failure to appear in court. The case pertains to an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the Huzurabad assembly constituency by-election in 2021. The case was registered in October 2021, accusing Bandi Sanjay of making remarks against an opposing party, alleging they distributed money to voters. Police filed a chargesheet in 2023, and the case was subsequently transferred to the special judicial first-class magistrate's court. On Thursday, when the matter came up for hearing, Mr Sanjay's counsel informed the court that he could not be present due to the ongoing Parliament session in Delhi. However, the magistrate took a serious view of his repeated absence despite previous directives and issued the NBW. The case has been adjourned to July 30 for further hearing. This incident is not the only legal matter Mr Sanjay has faced. He was recently served a notice by the SIT to record his statement as a witness in a case related to alleged illegal phone tapping during the previous BRS regime, which he has agreed to. Additionally, the Telangana High Court has, in some instances, dispensed with his personal appearance in other criminal cases, including one related to alleged MCC violations during the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections.
