Date:08/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100850150100.htm

Front Page

Land developer shot dead during party at farmhouse

Staff Reporter

Police looking for Govardhan Murthy, a film producer

Vinod Kumar

BANGALORE: A 28-year-old land developer was fatally shot at during a party at a Bagalur farmhouse around 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The police are looking for Govardhan Murthy, a film producer who hobnobs with politicians both in Karnataka and in Andhra Pradesh and who also deals in real estate.

Murthy, who produced “Madesha”, Shivarajkumar’s latest film, allegedly shot Vinod Kumar at Rose Heritage, his farmhouse in Bagalur in the city.

“Murthy was in an inebriated state and pointed his 7.7 mm pistol at Mr. Kumar and shot him,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East) Basavaraj Malagatti.

According to Mr. Malagatti, Murthy had called his friend Shankar Reddy and a few others to celebrate a successful land deal in Devanahalli. Mr. Reddy brought along his friend Mr. Kumar and five others around 10.30 p.m.

Around 1 a.m. a heated argument broke out between Murthy and Mr. Reddy even as the former’s security guards, Tiwari and Devu, posted at the farmhouse gate, fired in the air.

Hearing the gunshots, Mr. Reddy and Mr. Kumar stepped out to enquire, followed by Murthy.

Mr. Kumar turned around and asked Murthy as to how the shots were fired and the latter was reportedly heard saying: “This is how it was fired,” and allegedly fired two shots at Mr. Kumar. “Mr. Reddy witnessed this,” Mr. Malagatti said. Mr. Kumar, a resident of Kammanahalli, was brought to Manipal Hospital, where he died early Tuesday. The body was taken to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital for autopsy.

However, Mr. Kumar’s friends, who were at the mortuary, had a different story to tell. One of them, Shankar, said that he had gone to the party along with Mr. Reddy and Mr. Kumar but walked out after the quarrel.

However, Murthy, along with a few men, followed them. “Just as we were going towards our vehicle I heard the sound of firing. I turned and saw Kumar falling down,” he said.

The friends were incensed over reports appearing on a news channel that Mr. Kumar had died from the shots fired by Murthy’s security guards, and forced Mr. Malagatti to go on record about the alleged involvement of Murthy in the murder.

The police, on their part, suspect business rivalry. Three police teams are looking for Murthy.