Nine years later, a grave was opened in Karnataka to answer an old death. india news

Last updated:December 01, 2025, 13:16 IST

Police allege that Bheerappa’s wife got him murdered because she was allegedly opposing his relationship with another man.

For almost a decade, the death of a man in a small village near Kalaburagi, Karnataka remained buried under routine explanations and silence. Last week, that silence was broken when police dug up a grave to reopen a nine-year-old murder case.

What started as a quiet death has now resurfaced as a complex conspiracy involving betrayal, an alleged murder-for-hire and long-delayed forensic evidence. The case revolves around the death of Bhirappa Pujari, a resident of Kadani village in Kalaburagi taluk.

At the time of his death, there were no immediate red flags that led to a continued investigation. After the funeral his body was buried and life went on in the village. But police say that new information has completely changed the direction of the case.

Allegations that reopened a closed chapter

According to investigators, recent developments have pointed to a possible murder disguised as a natural or unexplained death. Police allege that Bheerappa’s wife got him murdered because she was allegedly opposing his relationship with another man. Investigators claim that the motive lay in an illicit affair and that Bheerappa had become an obstacle.

Based on fresh evidence and statements collected during the investigation, the police registered a case against the woman, accusing her of conspiring with her alleged accomplice and several associates. The allegation goes further – that hired killers were arranged to carry out the murder, a detail which greatly increases the seriousness of the charges.

Why did the police approach the grave?

After nine years had passed, physical evidence from the original scene was no longer available. This left investigators with only one option, the grave. After approaching the court and securing legal approval, the police ordered the exhumation of Bheerappa’s remains to obtain forensic evidence that could corroborate the new allegations.

The excavation took place at a burial site where a cremation had taken place years earlier. Forensic teams carefully excavated the grave under strict surveillance, following protocols to preserve whatever evidence might exist after being buried underground for nearly a decade.

a carefully coordinated operation

Many agencies were working together in this operation. Officials present at the scene included forensic experts, doctors from a government medical institute, revenue officials, a special investigation unit and local police. Their task to recover the skeletal remains without contamination and prepare them for forensic examination was both delicate and challenging.

Police sources say the skull and other skeletal remains were collected and sealed for further laboratory analysis. While decomposition is expected after such a long period of time, experts say the bones can still provide important clues about the cause of death, injury or trauma under the right circumstances.

What are investigators looking for?

Experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory will now conduct a series of tests to determine whether the remains show signs of a violent death. This may include examining fractures, skull injuries, or scars consistent with an attack. Where possible, DNA analysis can be used to confirm identification and conclusively link the remains to the victim.

Although forensic results may not provide all the answers, police say even partial confirmation can strengthen the prosecution’s case and help establish whether the death occurred under suspicious circumstances.

Arrests and the way forward

After the case was registered, the police arrested the accused woman, her alleged accomplice and three other people who were believed to be involved in the conspiracy. As the investigation is ongoing, all the accused have been sent to judicial custody.

Authorities have stressed that the case is still under investigation and that the findings of forensic tests will play a key role in determining next steps. The charges will depend largely on scientific evidence and corroborative testimony.

A reminder that time does not always bury the truth

This case highlights a grim reality of criminal investigation, with some crimes not coming to light immediately, but resurfacing years later when circumstances change. For the Kalaburagi police, reopening the case after nine years reflects both perseverance and increasing reliance on forensic science in modern investigations.

As the bones undergo examination far from the quiet grave where they rested for years, the truth behind an old death may finally be voiced. Whether it confirms the allegations or complicates them further, the excavation marks a turning point in a mystery long thought to be over.