VIJAYAPURA: The wife of notorious killer Mallikarjun Chadachan, Vimalabai, on Tuesday surrendered before a local court along with her associate Sonia Rathod.
Vimalabai was Accused No. 2 in the murder of Mahadev Bhairagonda on November 2, 2020, and had been on the run ever since. Sonia Rathod was named Accused No. 29 in the case.
The court has remanded them to judicial custody and the police may seek Vimalabai’s custody to investigate how the murder was plotted.
Recently, ADGP Alok Kumar, who had visited the region, held a meeting with warring Chadachand and Bhairagonda families and insisted that Mallikarjun Chadachan should surrender. He had also ordered seizure of their properties if they fail to surrender.
The police had also issued proclamations against the couple and recently. They also went from village to village, along with a drummer, making annoucements that Mallikarjun should surrender before court. The police also distributed pamphlets in all the villages.
The district police were also in touch with the Pune police for possible clues on Mallikarjun’s whereabouts as he is believed to be hiding there. The police have only a 20-year-old photograph of Mallikarjun and had even given up looking for him for the last 18 years.
Mallikarjun has been a dreaded rival of the Bhairagonda family. Years ago, he had taken 50 armed men in a vehicle and killed four of the Bhairagonda family. He came out on parole in 2004 and has been elusive ever since.
He even lost his three children to the family fued. To avenge their deaths at the hands of Mahadev Bhairagonda, he and his henchmen had attacked the Bhairagonda family. He has more than 15 cases registered against him.