Bengaluru Techie Arrested After 13-Year-Old Neighbour's Body Found in Car

Bengaluru: Police in Bengaluru have arrested a man accused of kidnapping and killing his neighbour's 13-year-old son in a botched ransom scheme, in a case that came to light after the accused's car was involved in a series of road accidents.

The Chikkajala police identified the accused as Bhaskar Reddy and the victim as Prajwal, a resident of Vinayaka Nagar in Yelahanka.

Investigators said Reddy used this familiarity to lure Prajwal into his vehicle on Wednesday under the pretext of buying firecrackers ahead of the Ganesha festival.

Police said Reddy then demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore from the boy's father, Manohar, who works in real estate and finance. Manohar alerted Reddy's family, who confronted him and urged him to return with the boy; police were also notified and a search was launched.

Reddy allegedly killed Prajwal after taking him to an isolated location with the help of a school bus cleaner, police said.

According to investigators, the two men assaulted Prajwal with a wooden rod, striking him on the back of the head. After he fell unconscious, they allegedly hit him with two hollow cement bricks, causing his death. Police said both men were under the influence of alcohol at the time.

The case surfaced after the vehicle, with the boy's body reportedly in the boot, was involved in multiple collisions on the Ballari Road service road near Yelahanka while Reddy was allegedly attempting to leave for Andhra Pradesh. Motorists who stopped to investigate the crashes alerted police, who then discovered the body.

A case has been registered at the Chikkajala police station. According to DCP Mithun Kumar, investigators have identified a second suspect believed to be involved, who is expected to be arrested soon.