Telangana hotelier murdered after opposing wife's affair; woman, lover arrested

Police said a Nagarkurnool hotelier was allegedly killed in a conspiracy involving his wife and her alleged lover. Investigators linked the case to a relationship dispute and property transferred in the wife's name.

In Short

• Police said Kareem opposed the relationship, triggering repeated disputes at home
• The matter was taken to community elders, where Kareem was threatened
• Investigators alleged Kareem had earlier transferred his property into Salima's name

An alleged extramarital affair and a property dispute led to the murder of a hotel businessman in Telangana's Nagarkurnool, police said, arresting the victim's wife and her alleged lover for conspiring to kill him.

The accused have been identified as Salima Begum (36), wife of the deceased Mohammad Kareem (43), and Md. Gouse Pasha (29), who allegedly shared a relationship with her. Kareem, a hotelier and resident of Ramnagar Colony in Nagarkurnool town, was found murdered at his home on September 7.

Nagarkurnool DSP Burri Srinivas said the investigation revealed that the duo allegedly plotted Kareem's murder after he objected to their relationship.

According to police, Salima and Gouse Pasha, who runs a tyre puncture shop in Nagapur village of Revalli mandal and is related to the family, had allegedly been involved in a relationship for nearly two years. Kareem had reportedly discovered the affair, leading to frequent disputes between the couple.

Police said the matter had even been taken to community elders for settlement. During one such confrontation, Gouse allegedly threatened Kareem.

Investigators further alleged that Kareem had earlier transferred his property into Salima's name. Believing that the assets would remain with them if Kareem was eliminated, the two allegedly hatched a plan to murder him.

According to police, the conspiracy was executed on the night of September 7. Salima had travelled to a dargah in Nellore and allegedly made a WhatsApp call to Gouse, instructing him to carry out the murder.

Police said Gouse arrived at Kareem's residence around 2.30 am wearing gloves and carrying a knife. Kareem, awakened by a sound at the door, opened it and was allegedly attacked. Investigators said Gouse slit Kareem's throat, killing him on the spot.

After the murder, Gouse allegedly disposed of the knife, clothes and footwear used during the crime in bushes before fleeing the area.

The case came to light after Kareem's brother, Hussain, lodged a police complaint. During the investigation, police questioned Salima and uncovered details of the conspiracy and Gouse's role in the killing.

Both accused were arrested and produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody. Police said they have recovered the knife allegedly used in the murder, along with clothes and footwear believed to have been worn by Gouse during the attack.

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