BENGALURU: A former corporator and his wife have been arrested along with five of his associates for the murder of a BJP worker.
The 42-year-old BJP supporter, Chikkathimmegowda, was brutally murdered on November 8 while returning home on his bike along with a friend, Naganna.
The seven arrests were made on Thursday. The Kamakshipalya police said the main accused Govindegowda, an ex-corporator JD[S], had developed rivalry with Chikkathimmegouda when the latter defected to the BJP during the last BBMP election. The two had a financial disputes.
Police said Govindegowda plotted with his wife Mahalakshmi to kill Chikkathimmegowda and struck a deal of Rs 30 lakh with some contract killers through an associate. Accordingly, they paid an advance of Rs 5 lakh to three felons, Sanaullah, Mathew and Sajay. Four more accused are still at large.
Chikkathimmegouda, a resident of Laggere in Sunkadakatte, was stabbed to death by three unidentified men. He was into real estate business and was also construction contracts.