Madikeri, May 18 -- Kodagu district police have successfully solved the murder of Sampath, also known as Shambhu, a wealthy contractor and the prime accused in the 2016 egg-hurling incident targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's car in Madikeri, back when Siddaramaiah was the Opposition Leader.

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder: Kiran, his wife Sangeetha and Ganapathi of Kushalnagar, who was also named in the earlier egg-throwing case. Kodagu Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan confirmed that the murder was the result of a blackmail plot.

Background and blackmail angle

Shambhu, who lived near Kakkehole Junction in Somwarpet Taluk, had separated from his wife a few years ago and was residing alone in a re...