Bengaluru: Owner of internet service provider held in murder of MD, CEO of rival firm

Phanindra and Vinu Kumar were stabbed to death by three persons in their office on Tuesday.

Confirming the arrest, additional commissioner of police (east) Raman Gupta told The Indian Express that Arun Kumar had allegedly hired Shabarish and others to eliminate Phanindra.

“We do not know whether Arun had given contract to the accused to kill Phanindra and Vinu Kumar. We are investigating. We have arrested the accused who killed the duo,” Gupta said.

The accused have been identified as Santosh (26), a resident of Marenhalli, Shabarish alias Felix (27), a resident of Devarachikkanahalli on Bannerghatta road, and Vinay Reddy (23), a resident of Roopena Agrahara.

In the complaint, Shankara Narayana, a colleague of Phanindra, had alleged the role of Arun Kumar in the murder due to business rivalry.

The police have registered a case under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 120b (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention).

A police officer said, “Phanindra was their target, not Vinu Kumar. As Vinu Kumar came to the rescue of his colleague, he was also killed. The accused had consumed alcohol near Electronic City before going to the office to commit the murder. Shabarish had earlier worked with GNet and is said to be close to Arun Kumar.”

BJP national secretary Suni Deodhar, in a tweet, claimed that Phanindra was a Hindu seer. In a tweet he said, “Hindu Seer brutally murdered in Bengaluru. #Paneendra_subramanyam no more. Alarming situation in #Karnataka has arrived due to a Government that idolises tyrant #TipuSultan.”

Mohan Gowda of Hindu Jagarana Vedike also claimed that Phanindra was Hindu leader. “One more Hindu Leader was brutally murdered in Bengaluru. #Paneendra_subramanyam no more. Om Shanti”

Pertaining to this incident, the allegedly accused have been arrested and an FIR has been registered at @amruthahallips. We request namma public to refrain from sharing this incident further while the investigation is underway. https://t.co/2teSTPsJMu

— ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ ಪೊಲೀಸ್‌ BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) July 12, 2023

However, the police denied the claims and said that it was a case of business rivalry and Phanindra was not a seer. In a tweet, Bengaluru city police said, “pertaining to this incident, the alleged accused have been arrested and an FIR has been registered at @amruthahallips. We request namma public to refrain from sharing this incident further while the investigation is underway.”