Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru: Hemant Das, the estranged husband of Mahalakshmi, whose body was found dismembered in a refrigerator in her Bengaluru flat, has alleged that his wife was having an affair, suggesting that her lover from Uttarakhand might be behind her murder.
Das told India Today that he had previously filed a complaint against Mahalakshmi’s lover at the Nelamangala police station months ago. “He was instructed not to come to Bengaluru after the complaint, but I don’t know if they met elsewhere,” Das said, casting suspicion on the lover’s involvement in the crime.
Police Investigation and Suspect Identification
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda confirmed that the prime suspect has been identified and efforts are ongoing to apprehend him. “He’s an outsider,” Dayananda told reporters, withholding further details to avoid tipping off the accused.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said police had gathered substantial clues about the case, with preliminary evidence pointing to a man from West Bengal. However, he noted that more evidence is needed before confirming his involvement.
Marital Disputes and Affair Allegations
Police records reveal that Mahalakshmi had filed a complaint against Hemant Das in February, accusing him of domestic violence. Das, on the other hand, had lodged a complaint accusing his wife of having an extramarital affair. Although a Non-Cognisable Report (NCR) was filed, family members had attempted to mediate the couple’s disputes.
Mahalakshmi and Das were married for six years and had a daughter. Due to mounting tensions and mutual accusations of infidelity, the couple had been living separately for the past nine months.
Gruesome Discovery and Ongoing Probe
On Saturday, Mahalakshmi’s body, dismembered into over 30 pieces, was found inside a refrigerator in her rented flat. The Vyalikaval police have launched an investigation, suspecting that the murder occurred approximately a week before the body was discovered.
Additional Commissioner of Police N Satheesh Kumar said the crime scene showed clear evidence of foul play, with Mahalakshmi’s body having been stored in the fridge for several days. Police are pursuing multiple leads and questioning several suspects, including Mahalakshmi’s alleged lover.
Chilling Parallels to Shraddha Walker Case
The gruesome nature of the murder has drawn comparisons to the Shraddha Walker case, where Aftab Poonawalakilled his partner, chopped her body into 35 pieces, and stored them in a fridge before dumping them across Delhi.
The disturbing similarities between the two cases have sent shockwaves through Bengaluru, intensifying public interest in the investigation as police work to track down Mahalakshmi’s killer.
