Woman allegedly murders husband with lover's help in Udupi; Accused's vehicle, mobile seized
Udupi: In a case where a woman allegedly conspired with her lover to poison and later murder her husband, police have intensified their investigation. The accused, Dilip Hegde (28) from Karkala, is currently in police custody and undergoing detailed questioning.
According to the complaint filed by Sanjeev Poojari, the victim’s father, Pratima (36) allegedly poisoned her husband, Balakrishna Poojari (44), on October 20 at their home in Depputte, Ajjarkadu, with the help of her lover, Dilip. The autopsy was conducted at Manipal Hospital, and the forensic report to confirm the exact cause of death is awaited. For further investigation, samples from the victim’s body have been sent to the forensic science lab to verify traces of poison.
On Saturday, police brought Dilip to a chemical store in Olakadu near Udupi, where he allegedly purchased the poison, and conducted a reconstruction of events. The police have also seized the vehicle, scooter, mobile phone, and SIM card reportedly used in the crime. Meanwhile, Pratima has been presented in court and remanded to judicial custody until November 7.
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Rare Kalyani Chalukya-era stepwell discovered in Karnataka’s Gadag district
Gadag: A centuries-old stepwell from the Kalyani Chalukya period is discovered into public in Sudi, a remote village in Karnataka’s Gadag district. The Nagakunda Pushkarani, dating to the 10th-11th century CE, is undergoing extensive restoration under the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage’s ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme.
The stepwell was focal point of community life and craftsmanship under the reign of Akkadevi, sister of Chalukya king Jayasimha II. It shows the dynasty’s mastery of architecture and water management. Its interior walls are carved with the precision of temple façades, setting it apart from most surviving stepwells in southern India, linking it stylistically to examples in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
After centuries of neglect left its sculptures weathered and its waters dry, the site is now being revived by the Deccan Heritage Foundation India in partnership with Heritage Matters, the Gandipet Welfare Society and the Water Literacy Foundation according to a report published by The HIndu. Work includes structural repairs, removal of invasive vegetation, dredging, stone resetting and landscaping, alongside the restoration of an adjacent mantapa with a large Ganesha idol.
Heritage architect B. Sarath Chandra noted, the project is as much about functionality as aesthetics, with water recharge efforts already underway. Funded by Gandipet Welfare Society founder Rajashree Pinnamenni, the restoration is slated for completion by late 2025, followed by a second phase linking the stepwell to the Jodu Kalasadagudi temple through landscaped pathways.
The report mentions that officials say the revival of Nagakunda Pushkarani could not only reintroduce Sudi’s Chalukya heritage to a wider audience but also serve as a model for conserving other lesser-known monuments across Karnataka.
