Nagesh had erected an electric fence across his farmland to prevent wild animals destroying the crops. On Thursday night, a 50-year-old elephant strayed into Kanchenahalli. When it tried to enter the farmland, its tusk brushed the fence and the animal was electrocuted, police said.
The incident came to light on Friday morning when villagers spotted the dead elephant. They called the jurisdictional Sathanur police. Forest officials arrived at the spot and conducted the post-mortem.
Based on a complaint filed by forest officials, police have booked Nagesh for illegally erecting an electric fence. They are trying to trace him as he has absconded.
On December 7, a tusker died from bullet injuries near the Kodihalli forest range. Forest officials are chasing stray tuskers back to the forest.