Vegetable Vendor Accused of Killing Friends Over Pandemic Losses

In November 2025, Ravi Prasad Reddy, a former grocery store owner from Hebbagodi, Bengaluru, was arrested on charges of murdering two of his friends. Investigations have revealed that Reddy, who is now a vegetable vendor, had incurred a loss of around Rs 5 crore during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 60 people to whom Reddy had lent money or with whom he had invested in chit funds died or left the city during the pandemic, causing him a huge financial setback. To rebuild his life, Reddy had set up a vegetable stall and brought in two associates from Andhra Pradesh to help him.

Reddy allegedly murdered tea shop owner R Madesh and metal fabrication factory owner Balappa Reddy to rob them and demand ransom. He had planned the crimes for around three months, purchasing an air pistol, a metal detector, and knives to carry out the attacks. Reddy was shot and injured in both knees when he tried to attack police personnel during a spot investigation.

The police have also questioned Reddy's two associates and his elder sister, who was allegedly present during one of the abductions. Reddy claimed that he had lent money to the victims earlier, but they refused to help him when he was in trouble, leading him to develop hatred towards them.