A shocking murder case has surfaced from Channagiri in Karnataka’s Davanagere district, where a woman allegedly killed her husband with the help of her lover and fled to Kerala. The accused, identified as Lakshmi (38) and her lover Tipesh Naik (42), have been arrested along with an accomplice named Santosh (40).

Marital struggles and betrayal
Lakshmi and her husband Ningappa, residents of Tyagadakatte in Honnali taluk, had been married for eight years but were childless. In pursuit of motherhood, Lakshmi had visited numerous temples and hospitals, only to later discover that Ningappa was infertile. Ningappa worked as a betel nut trader, and often hired local laborers—including Tipesh and Santosh—who became close to the family.

During this time, Lakshmi and Tipesh grew close and soon began an illicit relationship. The affair escalated and Lakshmi became pregnant with Tipesh’s child. Realizing he couldn’t father a child, Ningappa grew suspicious and forced Lakshmi to undergo an abortion, fueling her resentment.

A deadly conspiracy unfolds
On January 18, 2024, Lakshmi and Tipesh took Ningappa to Nallur village under the pretense of hosting a party. They made him drink heavily, and once he was inebriated, they threw him into the Bhadra canal, hoping to pass the incident off as an accidental drowning. Lakshmi later filed a missing report, claiming her husband had slipped and fallen into the canal. Despite a thorough search, his body was never recovered.

Escape to Kerala and unraveling the truth
While the case went cold, Tipesh moved to Kerala for work and later brought Lakshmi there secretly, without informing her family. When she disappeared, her family filed a missing person report, prompting police to revisit the case.

Suspicious of Lakshmi's sudden disappearance, police questioned Santosh, who eventually confessed everything—from the illicit affair and the forced abortion to the planned murder. Based on his confession, police tracked down Lakshmi and Tipesh in Kerala, arrested them, and sent all three accused to jail.