Gang Accused of Forging Will to Grab Murdered Woman's Bengaluru Properties

The Kaggalipura police have registered a criminal case against seven suspects for allegedly forging a property will to grab real estate belonging to 63-year-old S Shantamma, who was murdered at her farmhouse in Girigowdana Doddi in Vaddarapalya on April 5, 2024. The targeted assets include the four-acre farmhouse, a residential complex in Banashankari, and an industrial shed in Girinagar.

According to police records, the properties were originally purchased by Shantamma's husband, C Ugrappa, who died following a heart attack in July 2010. The couple's only son, U Harshith, died in a road accident in July 2016. Shantamma had been living alone at the Girigowdana Doddi farmhouse ever since.

Following Shantamma's murder, in which her personal driver and a few others were arrested for hacking her to death, police had sealed all her properties and retained the keys in their custody after suspecting a property angle behind the crime.

The alleged trespass came to light after Ugrappa’s brother, 62-year-old C Narayanappa, went to check on his late brother's property a few days ago. Narayanappa discovered that the lock on the farmhouse had been broken and found several unidentified persons inside. When he questioned them, the occupants claimed the properties were in their name under a written will.

Narayanappa filed a complaint at the Kaggalipura police station on Sunday, asserting that Shantamma's signature on the document had been forged and stating that no members of his family had ever met the suspects. The complaint names seven individuals: Geetha, Venkatesh, Sundar Raj, Praveen Kumar, Rangaraju, Mahesh, and Eerappa.

Police stated that they are currently verifying all relevant documents to establish whether forgery occurred. Investigating officers also noted that both parties have separately moved the court claiming legal ownership of the properties.