'Techie hit dumbbell on head, chest multiple times': How a ‘turn off the lights’ request led to manager’s killing in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: What began as a minor disagreement over keeping the lights on at work turned into a horrifying crime in west Bengaluru early Saturday. A 41-year-old man, identified as Bheemesh Babu, manager at a digital vault and photo-editing firm near MC Layout in Govindarajnagar, was bludgeoned to death by his colleague following a heated argument past midnight.How events unfolded

According to police, Babu, who was sensitive to bright light, often asked colleagues to switch off unnecessary lights in the office. Around 1 am, when Somala Vamshi (24), a technical executive from Andhra Pradesh, was still editing videos, Babu reportedly asked him to turn off the lights. The remark angered Vamshi, leading to a verbal altercation that quickly escalated. In a fit of rage, Vamshi allegedly threw chilli powder at Babu before grabbing an iron dumbbell and striking him multiple times on the head, face, and chest. As Babu collapsed, Vamshi panicked and rushed out to meet his colleague Gowri Prasad in Nayandahalli. Prasad, after learning what had happened, sought help from a friend, and the three returned to the office. Finding Babu motionless, they called an ambulance, but the staff pronounced him dead on arrival. Following the incident, Vamshi surrendered at the Govindarajanagar police station, where a case of murder was registered. DC (West) Girish S confirmed that the dispute over keeping the lights on was the immediate trigger for the killing. Police said the investigation is ongoing to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the fatal attack.