Fifth suspect arrested in Bengaluru gym trainer Vijay Kumar murder case

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a fifth suspect, Vikas, from Hoskote for allegedly helping to dispose of the body of a gym trainer near the Bannerghatta forest on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The arrest, which took place on Wednesday, is the latest development in the murder investigation of Vijay Kumar, who went missing on June 6.

According to investigators, the CID built on evidence previously collected by the Bannerghatta police before taking Vikas into custody. The decomposed body of the victim, Vijay Kumar, was discovered by locals near the Bannerghatta forest on June 9, three days after he went missing.

The murder allegedly took place in Anekal, where four previously arrested suspects—Srirama, Sumith, Venkateshaiah, and Babu—lured Kumar to a drinking party on June 6. Police arrested the four men after analyzing call detail records and other evidence.

The investigation revealed that the suspects initially planned to dump Kumar's body across the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border to mislead investigators. After that plan failed, they allegedly sought the assistance of Vikas to dispose of the body in the Bannerghatta forest.

The murder was reportedly carried out on the instructions of a real estate businessman, who remains absconding. Police stated the businessman ordered the killing because of Kumar's relationship with his daughter, with whom Kumar had reportedly eloped in 2023.

Initially, the Bannerghatta police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on June 9 for the murder of an unknown person. Kumar's family, who had been attempting to file a missing person complaint, subsequently identified the body.

The case was officially transferred to the CID on June 29. This transfer occurred after the wife of the accused real estate businessman made allegations against a senior Karnataka Police officer. The Bengaluru Rural Police have denied these allegations, stating they did not falsely implicate the businessman or seek favours, and called the claims an attempt to derail the investigation.