Temple priest arrested for killing 32-year-old woman, her daughter

Mysuru, Dec 15: Mysuru South police have solved the case of a double murder by arresting the priest of a local temple, who in spite of having a wife, had developed an illicit relationship with one of the victims.

The priest, identified as Mahesh of Uththanahalli, was arrested on Wednesday, after the victim's husband, Mallesh, lodged a police complaint. Mallesh, in his complaint, has alleged the priest's hand in the disappearance of his wife, Savitha, 32, and daughter Keerthana, 13.

Mahesh admitted to murdering them after he was quizzed by cops late in the night on Tuesday. Police rushed to the scene of crime and retrieved the body of Savitha from a well around mid-night, at Uththanahalli. Keerthana's body was fished out around midday on Wednesday.

Savitha, Mallesh and their daughter lived at Keelanapura. Police suspect that priest and Savitha were having an illicit affair.

The priest went to Keelanapura on Monday and brought Savitha and her daughter along with him to Uththanahalli. On Monday night they stayed in a house.

On Tuesday, the priest allegedly assaulted both Savitha and Keerthana before pushing both of them into a well near the house. He then returned home. Priest's wife is at her parents' house in Mandya along with their 3-month-old baby.

Initially, Mahesh had told police that all three of them had slipped into the well and only he managed to come up safely.