Bengaluru CEO, MD murder: 3 accused of stabbing former bosses arrested

The Bengaluru Police on Wednesday arrested all three accused in the murder of the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a tech company in the city. The accused have been identified as Shabarish, Vinay Reddy and Santosh. 

The police identified the deceased as Phanindra Subramanya, 36, and Vinu Kumar, 40, who were MD and CEO of Aironics Media Private Limited, respectively. The firm deals with providing internet services. The incident took place in a residential area located at Pampa extension in Amruthahalli, north Bengaluru. 

The police said the accused had a rivalry with both Phanindra and Vinu. India Today earlier reported that the trio used to work in their previous company, but had resigned from Aironics and launched their own firm. The trio also allegedly poached employees and customers from Aironics, sources said. 

"Three people arrested by the north east division police in the case," Lakshmi Prasad, DCP North east (Bengaluru), told ANI on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday evening, the accused, armed with daggers, barged into the Aironics office and attacked Phanindra and Vinu in the presence of other employees with sharp weapons, and escaped from the spot, according to the police. Both persons died on the way to the hospital, the police said. 

The police said the primary suspect in the twin murders is Shabarish, who called himself ‘Felix’ on Instagram. He allegedly held a grudge against Phanindra, who had voiced strong opposition to his industry practices.

He entered the tech firm at around 4 pm on Tuesday, July 11, carrying a sword and a knife. He stabbed Phanindra and Vinu, and fled. 

A police officer said, “Felix and Phanindra had worked together. He had established his own company and was a rival in the business. Around 4 pm on Tuesday, Felix attacked Phanindra and Vinu Kumar and stabbed them to death with sharp objects. He escaped from the spot after the murder.” 

DCP North East Bengaluru Laxmi Prasad had earlier said that the accused was accompanied by two more people. All three of them were arrested today.

According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Aironics Media Private Limited was registered on November 7, 2022. The directors are Sreeja Kanjirakattu Krishnamarar and Subramanya Phanindra as per the official records.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, the police had picked up Arun Kumar Azad, the owner of Gnet Broadband, from the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

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Azad, according to a report in Deccan Herald, allegedly hired the three accused, who were arrested today to eliminate Phanindra.  

The police said there was business rivalry between the two companies, Gnet Broadband and Aironics, which could be the primary cause behind the killings. Further investigation into the matter is underway. 

(With agency inputs)

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