Death worth Rs 3.75 crore: Inside Karnataka’s horrifying marriage mystery india news

Last updated:October 27, 2025, 14:34 IST

Taresh’s father Basavaraj told police that he was convinced that his son had been murdered. “He had taken a loan of Rs 30 lakh for the house, and then an insurance policy worth Rs 3 crore.

The quiet town of Haveri in Karnataka is now at the center of a horrific case of murder fueled by greed and betrayal. What started as a mysterious death of a soldier has turned into an alleged tale of a wife’s conspiracy for money. Four years of marriage, a sudden death, and an insurance policy worth millions – the puzzle begins to unravel in earnest.

A wedding that seemed perfect

Taresh, a native of Arsikere in Hassan district, had served in the CRPF for nearly 15 years. Four years ago, he married Divya of Naggenahalli, Channarayapatna. Friends say that he loved her, fulfilled her every wish.

As per his wish, he also bought a house in Chandra Layout, Bengaluru by taking a loan of Rs 30 lakh to build a comfortable house. To outsiders they looked like a happy, newly formed family.

Then, in June this year, that picture was shattered. Taresh went missing on June 18. Five days later his body was found near Shiggaon in Haveri district. The family was told that it was suicide. His wife and in-laws reportedly convinced others that he had taken his own life, and the last rites were completed after the post-mortem. The case was closed at that time.

A family’s suspicion turns into a case

Several months passed, but Taresh’s parents could not agree with what was told. He said that his daughter-in-law’s behavior changed immediately after the funeral – she completely isolated herself, avoided contact and showed no signs of mourning.

Then another piece of information emerged that deepened the suspicion: Taresh had taken an insurance policy worth Rs 3.75 crore just three months before his death.

That revelation shocked his family. He began to suspect that the policy and the money attached to it were the cause of his son’s death. Convinced that something was seriously wrong, he lodged a complaint with the Haveri SP and demanded that the case be reopened.

“He would never do that,” says the father.

Taresh’s father Basavaraj told police that he was convinced that his son had been murdered. “He had taken a loan of Rs 30 lakh for the house just three months before he died, and then an insurance policy worth Rs 3 crore. The premium itself was Rs 10,000 per month. How could he afford it? Who insisted on this?”

According to the complaint, Basavaraj believes that Divya had planned the insurance with the intention of encashing it and was assisted in this by her brother Dilip. The family says Taresh was a disciplined person, not someone who drank alcohol or ended his life without any reason.

FSL report changes everything

The report from the Forensic Science Laboratory has added another twist. It confirmed the presence of alcohol in Taresh’s body and ruled that death was caused by asphyxiation.

Her parents claim that this rules out the suicide theory, that she was likely forced to drink alcohol and then suffocated. The report contradicted an earlier post-mortem, which had mentioned “food stuck in the throat” as a possible cause.

As these contradictions escalated, Haveri SP ordered a re-investigation. The matter is now with Shiggaon DYSP. The investigators are expected to interrogate Divya and her brother again and verify the insurance, premium payments and timeline of events.

Haveri SP Yashoda Vantagodi said that the department is taking the matter seriously. He said, “Initial reports suggested death due to food obstruction, but his father’s statement and insurance link have made the case suspicious. We are investigating every angle including financial records and digital traces. Our team will visit Bengaluru for further enquiry.”

shadow of greed

This matter has spread anger at the local level. Residents see this as another example of how greed can spoil relationships. In Taresh’s hometown, people who once idolized the couple now speak of betrayal and distrust.

As the investigation continues, Haveri waits for answers, and waits for justice for a soldier who has been betrayed not by the enemy at the border, but by someone he trusted at home.