Bangalore, 26 September 2011: Mystery shrouds the death of a bank manager, who was found murdered in his rented apartment in Yediyur, Jayanagar, on Sunday.
The police said that the deceased, Shankar Pujari, 55, was smothered by somebody known to him on Saturday. The incident came to light at 5 pm on Sunday when a hotel delivery boy went to drop off food to Pujari, who was chief manager, marketing and IT section, with the MG Road branch of Oriental Bank of Commerce.
Pujari was staying in the rented apartment for the past one-and-half years after he was transferred from Mumbai.
The front door was ajar when the delivery boy came to the house. Pujari’s dinner used to be delivered at 6 pm.
On Sunday evening, the delivery boy rang the doorbell of Pujari’s house.
But then his attention was drawn to the door, which was ajar. When Pujari failed to appear at the doorstep, the boy began calling out to him.
Still, there was no response. He then went inside and found Pujari lying dead on the floor in the bedroom, said the police.
The furniture was thrown pell-mell as if someone had ransacked the house. The police suspect that is a ploy to mislead the investigators.
Pujari’s hands and legs were tied with a blanket and bed-sheet, said the police.
"It doesn’t look as a case of murder for gain. We have a clue and we will soon solve the case," said Sonia Narang, deputy commissioner of police (south).
Two almirahs in the house were found open. Police also found a mobile phone, watch and wallet belonging to Pujari in the room. Pujari’s wife, Kusuma Pujari, stays in Mumbai as the couple’s daughter studies in Mumbai.
She is expected to arrive on Monday in Kundapur, Pujari’s native place, from where she would come to the city along with her relatives, police said.
The post-mortem examination would be carried out on Monday.