Pune: In a shocking crime reported from the Maharashtra-Karnataka border region, a father has been arrested for allegedly killing his six-year-old son after doubting whether the child was biologically his. Police said the accused threw the boy into the Krishna River instead of seeking legal or scientific clarification.
The accused has been identified as Mallikarjun Arekari, a resident of Nagathane village in Vijayapura district, Karnataka. The child has been identified as Siddharth, son of Mallikarjun and his wife Bhagyashree.
Suspicion Within Family Led to Crime
According to investigators, the accused had been suspicious for nearly one and a half years after some acquaintances allegedly remarked that the child did not resemble him. This reportedly led to repeated disputes between the couple.
Police said the suspicion eventually escalated into a planned murder.
Took Child for School Admission, Then Killed Him
Investigators said that on March 16, Mallikarjun allegedly told his wife that he was taking Siddharth for school admission. He dressed the child in new clothes and travelled from Vijayapura to Karad in Maharashtra.
Police said he then took the child near the banks of the Krishna River at Vadoli Bhikeshwar in Karad taluk and allegedly threw him into the river.
The child drowned, officials said.
After the incident, the accused allegedly returned home and acted as though nothing had happened.
“This was a planned act. The child was killed over suspicion that he did not resemble the accused,” police said during the investigation.
Unidentified Body Found, Wife Grew Suspicious
On March 18, Karad police recovered the unidentified body of a child near the riverbank. Meanwhile, the accused allegedly told his wife that their son had been admitted to a hostel.
Police said suspicion deepened when the mother repeatedly asked to speak with the child around April 1, Siddharth’s birthday. The accused allegedly gave inconsistent answers, prompting her to file a missing complaint.
Mobile Location Exposed Movement
Karnataka and Maharashtra police then conducted a joint technical investigation. Officials said mobile phone location data placed the accused near Karad around the time of the incident.
During sustained questioning, the accused allegedly confessed to killing the child.
Police Statement and Arrest
Vijayapura Rural DYSP T.S. Sulpi said the investigation confirmed the killing was linked to the father’s suspicion over paternity.
The accused has been arrested and taken to the crime scene for further legal procedures and evidence collection.
The case has caused grief and silence in Nagathane village, where residents are struggling to process the death of the child.
