Main Suspect In Bengaluru Woman's Murder Found Dead In Odisha

The prime suspect in the case of a woman's gruesome murder in Bengaluru was found dead in Odisha on September 25, police said. A horrid crime unfolded on September 21 as a woman identified as Mahalakshmi Das was found dead with her body dismembered and stuffed inside a refrigerator. A police team had been dispatched to arrest the main suspect, Mukti Ranjan Roy, who was found hanging from a tree in the Bhadrak district. The man was reportedly Mahalakshmi's colleague at a garment store.

Police Find Main Suspect Dead

According to Mahalakshmi's family, she had a dispute with three of her colleagues, Mukti, Shashidhar, and Sunil. The police interrogated the latter two, and another man identified as Ashraf, a close friend of the 29-year-old victim. Both Mukti and Mahalakshmi were last seen at work on September 1.

Investigations pointed to Mukti, who had fled to West Bengal, as the main suspect. A police source told the Times of India that he had even confessed to one of his family members that he killed Mahalakshmi. A team was dispatched for his arrest, however, he was found dead in a village in Odisha. 

The news agency Indo-Asian News Service quoted an unnamed local source saying, "The suspected killer had arrived at the Pandi village on Wednesday and stayed at home. He had gone on a two-wheeler. His body was found by the locals." The motive behind Mahalakshmi's murder is not disclosed.

How The Incident Came To Light

Mahalakshmi reportedly lived alone in Bengaluru's Vyalikaval area. Her family is originally from Nepal but has settled in Bengaluru for many years. The family was regularly in contact with Mahalakshmi and often visited her apartment. However, the last time they met her was on September 2.

Her mother, 58-year-old Meena Rana, said in the police FIR that a neighbour called the family to report a foul smell coming from her apartment. The family reached her house and found the door locked from inside. They took a spare key from the landlord and opened the door to a horrifying sight.

Rana told the police "We found the apartment ransacked and a suitcase nearby. There were maggots near the refrigerator and it looked as if there were blood stains as well. Upon opening the fridge, I ran outside to inform my son-in-law, who called the police immediately," the Indian Express reported.

According to the police, Mahalakshmi's body was found in about 30 pieces. Additional Commissioner of Police (West Zone) N Satheesh Kumar told the Press Trust of India that the crime appeared to have been done on September 2 or 3. A canine squad and forensic experts reached the crime scene.

Estranged Husband's Revelations

Mahalakshmi was married to a man identified as Hemant Das, a mobile shop owner, with whom she had a four-year-old daughter. However, they had been separated for about nine months since he allegedly found out that she was having an affair. They had filed police cases against each other over marital disputes.

While Hemant, was initially a suspect in Mahalakshmi's murder, the police ruled out his involvement in the crime, the Times of India reported. He told the investigators that his estranged wife would visit the shop monthly to see their daughter, with her last visit being 25 days before her death.

Hemant said that he had filed a complaint against Mahalakshmi in February as she reportedly assaulted him when he refused to lend her money. However, the police let her off after counselling upon Hemant's request. Reportedly, Mahalakshmi had also registered an case against him for abuse.