The son of former Bailhongal MLA Baburao Bolashetty was found dead under mysterious circumstances early on Tuesday morning, with his body discovered completely charred inside a burnt vehicle in a remote forested area near Ramapur village in Dharwad district.

According to preliminary information, the deceased has been identified as Raju Bolashetty, 53, a resident of Hudukeri village in Bailhongal taluk, Belagavi district.

Local farmers spotted the charred remains of a car while heading to their fields around 6–7 am and immediately alerted the police.

Dharwad Rural Police rushed to the spot and confirmed the presence of a body inside the vehicle, which had been reduced to a burnt shell.

Police sources indicated that the incident is believed to have occurred between 10 pm and midnight on Monday, March 23.

Farmers working in nearby fields reported that no vehicle was present in the area when they left their lands around 6–7 pm the previous evening.

The discovery has triggered a strong suspicion of murder.

The location, a dense, uninhabited forest stretch adjacent to the railway track on the Dharwad–Belagavi border, is described as a secluded spot with no known connection to the victim.

Raju Bolashetty was last seen in his village until approximately 6 pm on Monday, where he had been interacting with supporters and villagers who frequently visit the politically active family for local panchayat and dispute resolution matters.

Family members and villagers noted that he rarely travelled alone outside the village.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, a local reporter from the area said the family’s political background and the remote nature of the location have raised several questions.

“He was accompanied by someone when he left the village. The fact that the car was deliberately set on fire in such an isolated place points towards foul play,” the reporter observed.

Dharwad Rural Police, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Gonjan A.R., have launched a detailed investigation.

Officers are examining multiple angles, including possible enmity, business disputes, financial issues, or any personal grudges.

They are also probing whether the death could be a case of suicide, though the circumstances strongly suggest otherwise.

Forensic experts have been called in, and the body has been shifted for post-mortem examination.

Police are collecting statements from family members, villagers, and are scrutinising call records, CCTV footage from nearby areas, and vehicle movement details.

The family of the former MLA has rushed to the spot, and tension prevails in Hudukeri village as supporters gather for further information.