Seven arrested in corporator Natarajs murder

BANGALORE: In a major breakthrough, the city police have arrested seven people in connection with the murder case of  Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) corporator S Nataraj.Based on the statements given by the accused, the investigating teams have concluded that increasing political clout of Nataraj and financial disputes led to his murder.  The police have also found out that the role of a woman was behind the murder.Police sources told Sunday Express that Rajendra, Mahesha, Seena, Vijaykumar and others had contemplated and executed the murder.  Rajendra was reportedly working with the slain corporator for some time and claimed himself as a police informer.  It is said that during interrogation, he revealed that he could not bear the increasing popularity and political clout of Nataraj and hence hatched a plot to eliminate him.  However, the police are yet to know whether he was influenced by someone or given contract by others as personally he does not have any political background as such.Meanwhile, Mahesha shared a financial dispute with Nataraj and hence he also joined hands with Rajendra in the murder.  They also roped in Vijaykumar, who was known to the victim and whose car was used in the crime, and others to carry out the murder, a police official said.The police have also grilled a woman in connection with the murder and it is most likely that she would be arrested in the case.  The police have not ruled out the chances of an former corporator’s role behind the murder and are investigating to ascertain his role. The police are also gathering call details of the mobile phone which was recovered from the car.  It is said that the top brass of the city police would hold a press conference on Monday to announce the arrest of the perpetrators of the murder.  BBMP Gandhinagar ward’s Congress corporator Nataraj was brutally hacked to death on the busy Sampige Road at Malleswaram on  October 1.