A 26-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her lover and buried near a stream in Karnataka’s Gadag district six months ago after she reportedly pressured him to marry her, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Satish Hiremath, 28, a resident of Narayanapura village, has confessed to killing Madhushree Angadi, who was also from the same village.
According to police, Madhushree and Satish had been in a relationship for nearly six years. When her family became aware of the affair, they sent her to live with relatives in Gadag town.
On the night of 16 December 2024, she left her relatives’ home and never returned. A missing person report was filed almost a month later, on 12 January, at Betageri Police Station.
During the investigation, police learned that on the night of her disappearance, Satish had taken Madhushree to a farmhouse near their village. “An argument allegedly broke out between the two over her insistence on marriage. In a fit of rage, Satish reportedly strangled her with a veil and later buried her body near a stream to conceal the crime,” said a police officer.
In the months following the murder, Satish continued with his daily routine, working at a petrol station and claiming he had last seen Madhushree when he dropped her on the outskirts of Gadag town.
However, inconsistencies in his statement emerged—most notably a location ping from Madhushree’s phone that contradicted his account.
“A message ping from her phone placed her at a location that did not align with Satish’s version of events. He claimed he had dropped her and had no knowledge of what happened next. But technical evidence pointed to a different story,” said B.S. Namegouda, Superintendent of Police, Gadag.
Confronted with the evidence, Satish eventually confessed and led officers to the burial site. Skeletal remains were recovered, although Madhushree’s skull is still missing. Forensic tests are currently being conducted to confirm the identity of the remains and determine the precise cause of death.
Police have registered a case of murder and will seek Satish’s custody for further investigation, including the recovery of additional evidence.
“He buried the body in a manner he believed would never be discovered. Initially, we considered the possibility of elopement. But when neither of them could be traced and there was no digital activity, suspicions grew. Persistent investigation ultimately cracked the case,” said Namegouda.
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