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The gruesome discovery of a 29-year-old woman's body, dismembered into over 20 pieces and stuffed into a refrigerator, sent shockwaves through Bengaluru. The victim, identified as Mahalakshmi, was a team leader at a costume outlet in Malleshwaram and resided alone in her rented house in Vinayaka Nagar, Vyalikaval. The police investigation, initiated based on a complaint filed by Mahalakshmi's mother, Meena Rana, revealed that the murder likely took place about 15 days prior, with the mutilated remains kept inside a 165-liter refrigerator.
While the investigation is ongoing, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda confirmed the identification of the prime suspect in the case. He emphasized that the suspect is an outsider, not from Karnataka, but declined to disclose further details. The National Commission for Women (NCW), taking note of the horrific crime, directed the Karnataka police to expedite the arrest of those involved, requesting a detailed report within three days. The case has sparked widespread concern and outrage, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures for women in the city.
Adding further complexities to the investigation, details emerged about the victim's troubled relationship with her husband, Hemant Das. The couple, who married six years ago and had a daughter together, had been separated for the past nine months due to domestic disputes. Mahalakshmi had previously filed a complaint against Das for assault in February, while he, in turn, alleged that she had an affair with a barber from Uttarakhand. The police had then registered a Non-Cognisable Report (NCR) on the matter. Das stated that the couple's separation stemmed from these extra-marital affairs and that he hadn't been in contact with Mahalakshmi for the past nine months.
Mahalakshmi's family members had attempted to mediate the couple's conflicts in February. However, the situation escalated tragically, leading to her gruesome demise. Mahalakshmi's brother, who visited her in July, stated that she had taken the house for rent after he moved out and that they had planned to meet on August 15th to celebrate Independence Day. He last spoke to her on September 4th, after which she became incommunicado. The police, who are meticulously investigating the case, have registered an FIR under Section 103 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and have handed over Mahalakshmi's body to her family after the postmortem examination.