What drove Mahesh to madness: Cops clueless
The killer , who lived under sub-human conditions, felt that he was the ‘protector’ of the girls , investigators say
Mahesh K came to Bengaluru 15 years ago. He started working in a private travel agency in East Bengaluru. After working there for a few years, he went to rural Bengaluru and worked with an educational institution.
He quit that job after a couple of years and went toBelagavi to work for few years. He returned to Bengaluru to join Pragathi PU College three years ago.
Additional commissioner of police (East) Harishekaran, who is heading the investigating team, has questioned Mahesh’s sister and brother-in-law with whom he used to stay. According to Harishekaran, when Gauthami and other girls joined the college, Mahesh was very polite to the girls’ parents and exchanged telephone numbers with them. He also reportedly assured them not to worry about their children’s safety as he would take care of that.
hostel . A few girls did not like it – amongthem Gauthami, Nischita and Shirisha,” Harishekaran said.
However, Mahesh was very close to Gauthami, he said. He reportedly visited her room often to talk to her. “This may have made him possessive of her and (Gauthami) rejecting his gift instigated him to take revenge,” Harishekaran said.
Mahesh reportedly had also instructed the girls not to speak to anyone after college hours. He even prohibited other staff members from interacting with the girls but with his exception, the police said.
“The students had started telling him that he was just an attender, not the hostel warden or the principal. They wanted to restrict him and asked him to mind his own business. When Gauthami shooed him way in front of fellow students and staff, Mahesh immediately went to his native Belagavi,” Harishekaran said. Police suspect that he procured the pistol from Belagavi.
His sister and brother-in-law however have informed the police that he was not interested in women and hence had remained unmarried even at 35.
Other phone calls
The police discovered that not only did the girls’ parents use Mahesh’s mobile to reach out to their daughters, but the girls too used his mobile phone to talk to their respective friends. The police said they found SMSes on his phone which they suspect to be from their friends addressed to the girls. “Mahesh, very silently, became an integral part of the girls’college life,” a source said.
His room
Mahesh’s room is 9x8 feet. There is no prominent ventilation in the room. There are two buckets to store water for daily needs, a mat, a bag and around five pairs of clothing. “A normal man cannot live in such conditions,” a police officer said. The cops also did not find any provocative or obscene material or photos.
The police have continued to deploy security at the college to maintain law and order. Entry is prohibited for common man and media. But they have allowed the Member of Legislative Council Motamma and other NGOs. Motamma, chairperson, sub-committee on crime against women, said Pragathi College hostel where Gouthami was shot dead “is in a bad condition”.
Motamma pointed at security lapses on part of the management. “There are 10 girls in each room and there is no proper facility and privacy for them.Even the room where Mahesh was provided to stay in the same building is like a pigsty,” she said.
She said she would bring the situation to the chief minister’s attention.
Mahesh was produced before the magistrate at his residence in Koramangala“Police sought his custody which was granted till April 9,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (south-east) Rohini Katoch Sepat.
The chairman of the college Som Singh and director and principal Prashanth who were also arrested for lapses have been granted conditional bail.
INJURED GIRL STABLE
Shirisha, 17, the injured friend of the PU student who was shot dead at her hostel is stable but still in the ICU. A team of doctors, including critical care specialists and plastic surgeon have performed corrective surgeries on her at Manipal Hospital. She is likely to be shifted to the general ward in 24-48 hours. Dr Sudharshan Ballal, medical director, Manipal Hospital said, “She is recuperating well. When she came here she had injuries below the nose, upper lip and the jaw. She still has difficulty in talking but she is totally aware of what is happening. She is still in the ICU under observation. She is currently on a liquid diet.” Her family members and relatives are there with her at the hospital. “If all goes alright, she should be discharged from the hospital within a week,” Dr Ballal said.
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He quit that job after a couple of years and went to
Additional commissioner of police (East) Harishekaran, who is heading the investigating team, has questioned Mahesh’s sister and brother-in-law with whom he used to stay. According to Harishekaran, when Gauthami and other girls joined the college, Mahesh was very polite to the girls’ parents and exchanged telephone numbers with them. He also reportedly assured them not to worry about their children’s safety as he would take care of that.
According to the police, the parents gave him a lot of importance. “He went to the extent of assuming himself to be a super guardian of the girls in the
However, Mahesh was very close to Gauthami, he said. He reportedly visited her room often to talk to her. “This may have made him possessive of her and (Gauthami) rejecting his gift instigated him to take revenge,” Harishekaran said.
Mahesh reportedly had also instructed the girls not to speak to anyone after college hours. He even prohibited other staff members from interacting with the girls but with his exception, the police said.
“The students had started telling him that he was just an attender, not the hostel warden or the principal. They wanted to restrict him and asked him to mind his own business. When Gauthami shooed him way in front of fellow students and staff, Mahesh immediately went to his native Belagavi,” Harishekaran said. Police suspect that he procured the pistol from Belagavi.
His sister and brother-in-law however have informed the police that he was not interested in women and hence had remained unmarried even at 35.
Other phone calls
The police discovered that not only did the girls’ parents use Mahesh’s mobile to reach out to their daughters, but the girls too used his mobile phone to talk to their respective friends. The police said they found SMSes on his phone which they suspect to be from their friends addressed to the girls. “Mahesh, very silently, became an integral part of the girls’college life,” a source said.
His room
Mahesh’s room is 9x8 feet. There is no prominent ventilation in the room. There are two buckets to store water for daily needs, a mat, a bag and around five pairs of clothing. “A normal man cannot live in such conditions,” a police officer said. The cops also did not find any provocative or obscene material or photos.
The police have continued to deploy security at the college to maintain law and order. Entry is prohibited for common man and media. But they have allowed the Member of Legislative Council Motamma and other NGOs. Motamma, chairperson, sub-committee on crime against women, said Pragathi College hostel where Gouthami was shot dead “is in a bad condition”.
Motamma pointed at security lapses on part of the management. “There are 10 girls in each room and there is no proper facility and privacy for them.Even the room where Mahesh was provided to stay in the same building is like a pigsty,” she said.
She said she would bring the situation to the chief minister’s attention.
Mahesh was produced before the magistrate at his residence in Koramangala“Police sought his custody which was granted till April 9,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (south-east) Rohini Katoch Sepat.
The chairman of the college Som Singh and director and principal Prashanth who were also arrested for lapses have been granted conditional bail.
INJURED GIRL STABLE
Shirisha, 17, the injured friend of the PU student who was shot dead at her hostel is stable but still in the ICU. A team of doctors, including critical care specialists and plastic surgeon have performed corrective surgeries on her at Manipal Hospital. She is likely to be shifted to the general ward in 24-48 hours. Dr Sudharshan Ballal, medical director, Manipal Hospital said, “She is recuperating well. When she came here she had injuries below the nose, upper lip and the jaw. She still has difficulty in talking but she is totally aware of what is happening. She is still in the ICU under observation. She is currently on a liquid diet.” Her family members and relatives are there with her at the hospital. “If all goes alright, she should be discharged from the hospital within a week,” Dr Ballal said.
Related Story: Mahesh wanted to kill four girls, but luck intervened
Related Story: Spurned sociopath runs amok in girls' hostel
