HIV-positive man kills worker after physical relations:Crushes him with stone; accused linked to 50+ people, police search for partners

A man described by police as a repeat offender allegedly murdered a factory worker in Bhopal after a sexual encounter, fearing the victim would report him to the police. The accused is HIV-positive and is believed to have been in contact with more than 50 people. Investigators say he had developed an obsession with infecting others with HIV. According to Katara Hills Police, the deceased has been identified as Rajesh Rai, a resident of Satlapur who worked at a factory in Mandideep. The accused, identified as Suresh (name changed), is a resident of Bhopal. After learning that the accused is HIV-positive, police have started gathering details of people associated with him. Katara Hills Station House Officer Sunil Dubey said the incident took place on May 24. Rajesh Rai had left home for his night shift when he met the accused near a culvert close to Ecological Park on the 11 Mile Bypass road. First fed him food, then took him to a deserted place According to police, the accused first gained Rajesh Rai’s trust. He bought him food and then took him to a secluded area beneath a culvert near Ecological Park. Suresh allegedly attempted to establish a homosexual relationship with Rajesh. When Rajesh objected, an argument broke out between the two. Police said the accused became angry over Rajesh’s resistance. He allegedly pushed him to the ground, had sex with him, and then attacked him with a stone lying nearby in an attempt to conceal his identity and destroy evidence. Rajesh suffered severe head injuries and died on the spot. Tried to make the murder look like an accident Katara Hills police said the accused then tried to make the incident appear to be a road accident. He parked Rajesh’s scooter near barbed wire on the roadside, away from the crime scene, and threw the keys some distance away to create the impression of an accident. The accused then fled with the victim’s mobile phone. He later sold the phone to another person. Police said the phone and its location eventually became the biggest clue in the case. Investigators traced the accused using call detail records (CDR), mobile surveillance and other technical evidence. Accused found to be HIV infected in medical examination SHO Sunil Dubey said the accused underwent a medical examination after his arrest, which confirmed that he is HIV-positive. Following the revelation, both police and the health department have gone on alert. Investigators say he had been involved in sexual relationships with men for several years. The accused reportedly spent long hours roaming around New Market and the VIP Road area. If he did not find anyone there, he would return to his home in Misrod. Police say he had developed a habit of seeking relationships with different people and wanted to infect others. After confirmation that the accused is HIV-positive, police and health authorities have begun identifying people who came into contact with him after his release from jail. Counselling and medical screening may be conducted wherever necessary. The accused has been to jail before as well Police investigations have also revealed that the accused had previously been jailed in connection with a similar offence involving another young man. He had spent around three months in jail in one case. In 2023, he was jailed for about eight months in a similar matter. Police records show that he already has a criminal history. Court Sends Accused to Jail Katara Hills police have registered a case against the accused under charges including murder and other relevant sections of law. The investigation is ongoing and further action is being taken based on available evidence. The accused was produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.