BANGALORE: It is learnt that the police have arrested five persons, including an advocate, in connection with the abduction and murder of jeweller Nitesh Bera.
They have recovered a Honda City car which was allegedly used for the abduction of Bera, his scooter and 100 gm of gold jewels from the accused.
The advocate is said to be the mastermind of the case and he was known to the victim as he frequently visited BNR Jewellers owned by Bera. All accused live near Cubbonpet, Avenue Road and surrounding areas.
Sources said that the kidnappers abducted Bera near St Martha’s Hospital in the car. “The accused were planning for robbery for two months. They suspected that Bera used to carry a large quantity of gold. But when they kidnapped Bera, he was not carrying gold. They demanded Rs 4 crore for his release and finally asked him Rs 2 crore. But Bera was not in a position to arrange money. The kidnappers decided to kill him only after he informed his wife about the kidnap in his last call to her,” the source explained.
“The killers feared that they would be in trouble if they release Bera and decided to finish him. They switched off his phone and and stabbed him in his neck and killed him in the moving car,” sources added.
It is said that the advocate knew that Bera was constructing a house near his shop at a cost of about Rs 1.5 crore.
“Even this made the killers think that they can easily make money if they rob him. Their motive was to make huge money and lead a lavish life,” sources said.
Further investigations are on. Bera was kidnapped on March 27 night and his body was found at Goobegudda near Dobbspet in Tumkur district on March 28.