Bengaluru : A cab driver arrested for allegedly killing seven members of his wife’s family in Bengaluru has told police that he committed the gruesome crime following years of mental harassment by his wife and her family members, police said on Friday. The accused, Indushekar, allegedly claimed during interrogation that his wife had harassed him for nearly 20 years and that her family members had always supported her. He reportedly narrated incidents of alleged mental harassment over a long period while being questioned by the police. The shocking incident has sent shockwaves across Karnataka, with seven members of the same family, including the accused’s wife, a child, his mother-in-law and other relatives, allegedly murdered over a period of about 15 days. Indushekar, a cab driver, was arrested by the Rajajinagar police in connection with the case.

The deceased have been identified as his wife Suneeta, brothers-in-law Shivakumar and Shankar, Shivakumar’s wife Divya, their son Puneeth, Shankar’s wife Nalini and his mother-in-law Roopavathi. According to the police investigation, the accused allegedly invited the family members to his rented house on the pretext of hosting a meal of mutton dishes. He allegedly mixed sleeping tablets in the food and, after the victims became unconscious, attacked them using a grinding stone and other means. Police sources said the accused transported the bodies in his car and disposed of them at different locations. The accused had been living in a rented house near Bhashyam Circle for the past eight years. He had also reportedly filed a case against the owner of the building. During interrogation, Indushekar allegedly told police that he and his wife frequently quarrelled and that she treated him as a “useless man”. He also allegedly claimed that her family members always supported her during their disputes. However, family members of the victims have rejected his claims and raised questions over the killing of the other relatives.

“If he was unhappy with his wife, why did he want to kill the others?” family members asked, alleging that the murders could have been motivated by a property dispute. According to the family members, they received a message stating that the family was going on a three-day trip to the Hogenakkal area and that there was no need for them to worry. As the message came during the Dasara festival period, they initially did not suspect anything. The relatives said they waited until last Thursday and repeatedly tried to contact the family, but their calls went unanswered. When they went to Indushekar’s house, they found it locked. Police are also examining the circumstances surrounding messages allegedly sent to the victims’ relatives to create the impression that the family had gone on a trip.

The accused’s daughter had also allegedly called other family members to her house, saying that she wanted to have good food as her mother had gone on a trip. The case came to light after family members became suspicious about the prolonged absence of the victims. During questioning, Indushekar allegedly gave contradictory statements, following which police searched his residence and reportedly found clues linked to the murders. The body of Puneeth was recovered near Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur district after police took the accused to the area for a search operation. Efforts are continuing to trace the bodies of the remaining victims. Police have also seized the car allegedly used to transport the bodies. Investigators are examining the complete sequence of events, including the alleged motive behind the killings. Senior police officers are supervising the investigation, and a special team has been formed to trace the remaining bodies and collect evidence. Further investigation is underway.

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday expressed grief over the loss of seven lives in a road accident in Jharkhand’s Khunti district and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

“The news of the deaths in the road accident that occurred in Khunti district of Jharkhand is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured in this accident,” President Murmu posted on X.

The accident occurred in Karra village of Khunti district around 10 p.m. on Thursday near the Jone-Ludru turn on the Karra-Torpa main road. A scooter had met with an accident, following which local residents gathered along the roadside to help the rider.

During this time, an 18-wheeler trailer truck, reportedly speeding from the Torpa side, allegedly ran over the people who had gathered at the spot.

Six people died on the spot, while a 12-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Khunti Sadar Hospital. A young girl was also injured in the accident.

Anger erupted among villagers in Khunti district on Friday morning following the accident.

Enraged residents blocked the main road near the Karra railway crossing by burning tyres, bringing vehicular movement in the area to a complete halt.

The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the trailer truck driver allegedly responsible for the accident, government jobs for the families of the deceased and adequate compensation for the victims’ kin.

The protesters claimed that poor visibility and the condition of the road at the Jone-Ludru turn significantly increase the risk of accidents. They also alleged that despite the stretch being accident-prone, heavy vehicles frequently pass through the area at high speeds.

The villagers demanded stronger road safety measures at the accident-prone stretch to prevent such incidents in the future.

Following information about the road blockade, police and administrative officials reached the spot and held talks with the demonstrators in an effort to restore normalcy. Authorities assured the protesters that all possible assistance and compensation would be provided to the affected families in accordance with government provisions.

Additional police personnel were deployed in the area as a precautionary measure amid rising tensions.

The Karnataka government has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners from 15.75 per cent to 18 per cent, with retrospective effect from July 1, 2026.

Announcing the decision on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the government had issued orders enhancing the DA for employees drawing salaries under the 2024 Revised Pay Scales. The revised DA will be calculated as 18 per cent of basic pay, up from the existing 15.75 per cent.

The same enhancement has also been extended to retired state government employees and family pensioners in accordance with the applicable rules.

Parameshwara said government employees were the backbone of the administration and their dedication, professionalism and commitment played a significant role in implementing government policies and programmes for the people of Karnataka.

He also acknowledged the contribution of retired employees, who had devoted decades of their lives to public service and the development of the state.

At a time when the cost of living was rising, it was the government’s responsibility to safeguard the financial well-being and dignity of serving and retired employees, he said.

The DA hike was a recognition of their contributions and reflected the government’s commitment to supporting employees, pensioners and their families, he added.

The government remained committed to protecting the interests of employees and pensioners and ensuring that their contributions to public service received due recognition and respect, Parameshwara said.

The Karnataka government on Thursday disbursed the first instalment of drought relief to farmers in time for Diwali and announced that another instalment of Rs 2,500 would be released within the next few days, taking the total assistance to Rs 5,000 per farmer.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara launched the release of the first instalment at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The government released Rs 1,260 crore towards the first phase of input subsidy, which will be directly transferred to eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Addressing the media, Chief Minister Shivakumar said the government had decided to provide Rs 2,500 per acre for up to two acres, with a maximum assistance of Rs 5,000 per farmer. He said Rs 2,500 was being released in the first instalment and another Rs 2,500 would be provided in the coming days.

“Today, the Deputy Chief Minister and I are pressing the button to release the first instalment of Rs 2,500. In another 15 days, we will mobilise funds and provide another Rs 2,500. We have taken this decision,” Shivakumar said.

He said the assistance might not transform the lives of farmers but maintained that the government wanted to stand with them during the crisis, particularly with Diwali approaching.