Bengaluru corporator's son arrested in connection with murder of rowdy sheeter

The son of a Bengaluru corporator was arrested on Monday in connection with the murder of a notorious rowdy sheeter, police said. Sooraj, the son of Hombegowda Nagar Corporator Chandrappa D, was taken into custody and produced in a local court for his alleged involvement in the murder of Vijay Kumar.

On December 4, Vijay Kumar, 38, also known as Lakkasandra Viji or Cable Viji, was found dead in his office at around 9.30 pm. According to police, he was hacked to death by six to seven men after chilli powder was sprinkled in his eyes. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

Some Gowda GU, assistant commissioner of police, Madiwala, said, “The two of them, Vijay Kumar and Sooraj, had business dealings with each other. Vijay Kumar is believed to have owed money to Sooraj for long. The two had a public fight among them during election time.”

Three teams were formed to nab the murderers and solve the case. According to Adugodi Police investigating the murder, Sooraj had paid ‘supari’ to contract killer Shafi to kill Vijay Kumar. A case of murder (Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code) has been registered. Police have yet to arrest Shafi and others who were involved in the killing.

Vijay Kumar was a local muscle-man in the Wilson Garden area who ran a cable TV subscription business. He was infamous for extorting money from local businesses and 'settling' disputes with forceful intimidation. He last arrested in 2017 after Kadabagere Srinivas, the APMC president, was shot at in broad daylight near Kogilu cross. Viji was arrested for criminal intimidation of Srinivas' associate, a businessman named Tata Ramesh. In September this year, the police had raided the homes of several rowdy sheeters, including Viji's, where they found illegal documents, fake pistols, machetes and gold.

Chandrappa D, a two-time Congress corporator, refused to comment on the issue.