BENGALURU: A 23-year-old habitual offender was arrested on Saturday for robbing and then killing a man during the Karaga festival last month.
Police said Rasool alias Aakash, a resident of Kaggalipura, stabbed Muralidhar (35) to death near KR Market in Kalasipalya on April 11.
A senior police officer of City Market station said that Muralidhar, a native of Hassan, lived in Mudalapalya. On April 11, Muralidhar and a group of friends were visiting the Karaga festival. Rasool, who was released from jail a few days earlier, was at the festival in an attempt to steal from devotees.
Police said Rasool was attending nature’s call near the Tools Bazaar complex when Muralidhar passed by. Police said Muralidhar signaled Rasool for a sexual favour and Rasool took him into the complex. He then snatched Muralidhar’s mobile phone, cash and other valuables. When Muralidhar tried to raise an alarm, Rasool stabbed him repeatedly.
Rasool then washed his knife and threw it away. He went to a vacant site near a bar in the same area and burnt his blood-stained clothes.
“During the investigation, we found that Rasool had mentioned the incident to a few other habitual offenders,” said a police source.
Based on a tip-off, Rasool was detained. He told police that Muralidhar forced him to have sex with him and hence stabbed him.
Police verified CCTV footage and found Rasool passing through MD Circle at the time of the incident on that day