By Sumesh Rajan | May 5, 2026
Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: What began as a quiet weekend drive to the picturesque hills on the outskirts of Bengaluru ended in a horrifying double death that has sent shockwaves across Karnataka. A clandestine relationship between a government employee and a private college professor culminated in a suspected murder-suicide spanning two crime scenes — a burning car in Doddaballapur and a mutilated body on railway tracks near Bidadi.
Police have identified the deceased as C Ramanjinappa (45), a resident of Marasandra near Rajanakunte and an employee at the Devanahalli taluk office, and Saroja J (40), a Kannada professor at a private college in Devanahalli. Investigators said the two were involved in a secret romantic relationship that had reportedly been concealed from their families.
Borrowed Car, False Emergency, and a Secret Outing
According to police, Ramanjinappa borrowed a hatchback from his friend Suresh Kumar at around 6.30 am on Saturday May 2, claiming that a family member needed urgent medical attention. Instead, he drove to Devanahalli, where he picked up Saroja from a local bus stop at around 9.30 am.
The pair then spent several hours together, reportedly visiting Nandi Hills and nearby tourist spots. Police believe the outing appeared routine and uneventful until late afternoon, when the couple drove towards the isolated outskirts of Jinkebachhahalli village in Doddaballapur taluk.
Violent Confrontation Inside the Vehicle
Investigators suspect that an argument broke out inside the parked vehicle in the secluded area. During the altercation, Ramanjinappa allegedly struck Saroja on the head with a hammer, leaving her unconscious.
Police said he then shifted her body to the rear seat, poured petrol inside the hatchback, and set the vehicle on fire in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.
Witnesses from the nearby locality later informed police that they saw a man running away from the burning car, with parts of his clothing also engulfed in flames, indicating that Ramanjinappa may have suffered burn injuries while escaping.
Local residents immediately alerted the police and fire department after noticing the blaze. Fire tenders reached the scene and extinguished the flames, only to discover a charred body inside the completely gutted hatchback.
Technology Helped Police Identify the Car
The investigation gained a crucial breakthrough when the car owner, Suresh Kumar, received an automatic crash alert notification on his mobile phone from the vehicle’s in-built safety system.
Repeated attempts to contact Ramanjinappa failed as his mobile phone had been switched off.
Police traced the burnt hatchback through its chassis number and contacted Kumar, who arrived at the scene and confirmed that Ramanjinappa had borrowed the vehicle earlier that morning.
Simultaneously, police control rooms received a missing person complaint for Saroja on Saturday night. Burnt ornaments recovered from the charred body were shown to her husband Jayashankar, who identified them as belonging to his wife. Her identity was later formally confirmed.
A special investigation team headed by Inspector Sadiq Pasha was constituted to probe the incident.
Second Body Found on Railway Tracks Near Bidadi
While police teams across the state were searching for Ramanjinappa, a second disturbing development emerged on Sunday May 3 morning.
Railway police from the Bidadi section informed Bengaluru investigators that a severely mutilated body had been found on railway tracks in Bengaluru South district. The body was severed and disfigured beyond recognition.
An Aadhaar card recovered near the corpse established the identity as Ramanjinappa.
Police suspect that after fleeing the burning vehicle, the accused travelled towards Bidadi and either died by suicide under a moving train or was fatally struck while on the tracks. The exact circumstances of his death are still under investigation.
Murder Complaint Registered
On Sunday May 3 afternoon, after confirming his wife’s death, Jayashankar lodged a formal murder complaint against Ramanjinappa, accusing him of killing Saroja.
Police are now piecing together the exact motive behind the fatal confrontation, including whether the argument stemmed from personal differences, pressure over the relationship, or fear of exposure.
Two Crime Scenes, One Chilling Conclusion
What started as a seemingly harmless day trip between two lovers turned into one of Bengaluru’s most gruesome crime stories in recent days — a woman burnt alive inside a car in a lonely village, and the alleged killer found dead less than 24 hours later on railway tracks miles away.
Investigators continue to examine forensic evidence, call records, and CCTV footage from toll plazas and surrounding areas to reconstruct the final hours of the doomed journey.
Comments
Post a Comment