Family's 'Missing' Act Unraveled by Ringtone

What began as a missing person case in Bengaluru rapidly escalated into a horrific murder investigation. Akshay BJ reported his father Bheemaraj H, mother Jayalakshmi J, and sister Amrita missing, portraying deep concern. However, inconsistencies in his statements and random police calls to the family's phones, all of which were switched off, raised suspicions.

A crucial breakthrough occurred when a constable's call to Amrita's phone rang from Akshay's pocket, immediately shifting the investigation's focus. Police found three SIM cards belonging to the supposedly missing family members on Akshay, exposing his elaborate deception.

Investigators discovered that Akshay had brutally murdered his family using an axe. He slit their throats and buried them in a 10-foot-deep pit on their property in Vijayanagar. His uncle, Vasanth, was also arrested for allegedly advising on evidence destruction.

The motive appears linked to a financial dispute. Bheemaraj had recently sold a property for Rs 1.2 crore, and Akshay had apparently spent a portion of the proceeds without his father's knowledge.

Akshay confessed to the crimes, detailing how he murdered his mother on January 26, followed by his sister, and then his father. He concealed their bodies and traveled to Bengaluru, leaving his phone behind while carrying the family's devices to feign their presence.

To further mislead authorities, Akshay took photos near Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru and sent them to his phone, fabricating a story about a family visit for his father's health checkup. Over the following days, he used a drilling machine to dig the pit, masking the noise with a high TV volume.

On January 29, Akshay returned to Bengaluru and filed the missing person report, but the ringing phone the next day led to his undoing. Tilaknagar police alerted their Vijayanagar counterparts, who recovered the bodies and recorded the operation. Akshay is in police custody for 10 days, while his uncle is in judicial custody.