Bengaluru: Police have intensified efforts to secure a conviction in last year’s abduction and murder of a 13-year-old boy by strengthening their legal approach. As part of this push, the govt has appointed a special public prosecutor (SPP) to lead the trial.The case relates to the abduction and killing of Nishchit A, a class VIII student, who was kidnapped on the night of Aug 30, 2025, while returning home from tuition in Hulimavu. His half-burnt body was found the next evening in Bilvaradahalli forest area of Bannerghatta.Investigators say the crime was orchestrated by S Gurumurthy, 25, who worked as a driver for the boy’s family, along with his associate P Gopi, 27. The duo allegedly plotted the kidnapping to extort Rs 5 lakh. Both the accused were later tracked down, shot at and injured during police action, and subsequently arrested. They remain in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison after the court denied them bail.2 chargesheets, 126 witness statementsPolice have built an extensive case, filing chargesheets running into 1,565 pages within a tight timeline. The preliminary chargesheet of 1,347 pages was submitted within 60 days of arrest, followed by a supplementary one of 218 pages. Together, they include statements from 126 witnesses.Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the appointment of SPP Ashok Naik, approved by the home department, reflects the seriousness of the case. Ashok Naik was the SPP in the Prajwal Revanna case which ended in conviction. Unlike regular prosecutors, an SPP focuses solely on a single case, allowing closer attention to detail during trial.“It was a heinous case where two men masterminded the kidnap of a boy for ransom and later killed him, the only child of his parents. Such cases should not occur again in our society. After the preliminary chargesheet containing statements from 110 witnesses, the additional one had statements from 16 more eyewitnesses,” Singh said.The investigation, led by DCP (Electronics City) M Narayana, relies on a combination of eyewitness accounts, digital tracking and circumstantial evidence. Witnesses reportedly saw Gurumurthy taking the boy on a motorbike on the night of the kidnapping.Police have also compiled CCTV footage from 17 cameras to reconstruct the route taken by the accused, including visuals of them buying snacks at a bakery and purchasing petrol in a bottle from a fuel station. A digital map based on this footage forms part of the evidence.Investigators allege that Gopi stole a keypad phone, used its sim card in a smartphone to install WhatsApp and make the ransom call, before disposing of the device.Officials said the case is being pursued with the intent of setting a precedent against crimes targeting children.
