Finish Him Off: Karnataka Woman Arrested for Plotting Husband’s Murder with Lover
A dramatic midnight attack in Indi town, Vijayapura district, Karnataka, led to the arrest of 29-year-old Sunanda Poojari, accused of conspiring with her lover Siddappa Katanakeri to kill her husband, Beerappa Poojari. According to the complaint, the assailants tried to strangle and assault Beerappa around midnight on September 1, 2025; he survived, raised an alarm, and the attackers fled. Sunanda has been arrested and the lover remains absconding; police have launched a manhunt and are investigating after an FIR was filed.
What happened — the sequence of events (clear and simple)
According to the complaint and police reporting, the attack took place around midnight on September 1, 2025, in a rented house in Indi town. The alleged sequence is brutal and straightforward:
- One man held Beerappa down and tried to strangle him while another reportedly assaulted his private parts.
- Beerappa says he heard his wife urging the attacker to “finish him off.”
- He managed to claw his way out of a near-fatal choke when his leg struck a cooler, making a noise that alerted the house owner.
- The landlord and his wife rushed in; the attackers fled after threatening to return and kill him.
- Beerappa sustained injuries and is receiving treatment in a private hospital.
Those details, disturbing as they are, come from the victim’s complaint which became the basis for the FIR and the arrest of Sunanda. Police identified the alleged lover as Siddappa Katanakeri, who police say remains at large and is being hunted.
Victim’s account — how he survived and what he told police
The account Beerappa gave to police is harrowing and offers key evidence: he says one attacker sat on his chest, another pressed his neck and blocked his nose and mouth, making it difficult to breathe. He recounts that his wife was beside him and did not help; instead, she allegedly encouraged the attackers. When the cooler smashed and made a loud noise, neighbors rushed in and that is what broke the attack. Beerappa’s son, Rakesh, opened the door and revealed one of the attackers to be Siddappa. This sequence gave police both a narrative and potential leads for identification. The victim’s detailed description — of sounds, words, and the landmark (the cooler) — is vital in reconstructing the event and in building probable cause.
The accused and the fugitive — names and competing narratives
Police arrested 29-year-old Sunanda Poojari following the complaint. Siddappa, who has been identified by the victim and appears in the FIR, is at large. But there’s an additional twist: Siddappa himself released a video denying involvement and presenting an alternate story — claiming he and Sunanda were in a consensual relationship for around two-and-a-half years and that he is being unfairly accused. He warns dramatically that if anything happens to him, Sunanda will be held responsible, and claims he will give his full statement to police. That counter-claim complicates the narrative slightly — it’s now not just a binary of accused and accuser but a contest of versions that the police and courts will need to adjudicate.
FAQs —
Q1: Who has been arrested and who is still at large in the Vijayapura attack?
A1: Police arrested 29-year-old Sunanda Poojari following the complaint. Her alleged lover, Siddappa Katanakeri, has been identified and remains at large while police search for him.
Q2: What charges are mentioned in the FIR?
A2: The FIR reportedly includes allegations of attempted murder, assault and threats of future murder; the formal charge sheet will specify the exact sections of the Indian Penal Code applied as investigators gather evidence.
Q3: Did Beerappa survive the attack, and where is he receiving treatment?
A3: Yes — Beerappa survived, sustained injuries, and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital per his complaint to police
Q4: What evidence did the victim give to identify the attackers?
A4: Beerappa’s identification rests on his account that one attacker was revealed when his son opened the door and that the attacker he recognized was Siddappa; the landlord and his wife who rushed in may also serve as witnesses. Forensic and digital evidence will supplement these testimonies.
Q5: How can communities help reduce such incidents in future?
A5: Communities can maintain strong neighbor-check systems, promptly report suspicious activities to police, support victims seeking help, and participate in local safety programs that educate on recognizing and responding to domestic violence. Quick neighborly action — as in this case where the landlord intervened — can be life-saving. (This is general advice, not legal counsel.)
