Bengaluru Doctor Arrested For Allegedly Murdering Wife Using Anaesthetic Drug

Dr Kruthika Reddy and Dr Mahendra Reddy (File Photo)

Bengaluru:

A husband who is also a doctor has been arrested six months after his doctor wife's death in Bengaluru on allegations of murder.

Dr Mahendra Reddy, a general surgeon, allegedly administered an overdose of anaesthetic drug to his wife at their residence in the Munnekollal area of eastern Bengaluru on April 21.

His wife, Dr Kruthika Reddy, a dermatologist, reportedly became ill and was transported to a nearby hospital by her husband. Hospital doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

Initially, authorities registered a case of unnatural death at the Marathahalli Police Station.

The couple had married on May 26 of the previous year, and both worked as physicians at Victoria Hospital.

During the home inspection, the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) discovered critical evidence including a cannula set, injection tube, and other medical items. These were submitted to investigators for forensic examination.

Viscera samples were collected and forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to establish the cause of death.

The FSL report subsequently revealed the presence of Propofol, a potent anaesthetic drug, in the victim's organs, indicating criminal activity.

Based on these findings, the victim's father filed a complaint on October 13, alleging that his son-in-law had murdered his daughter using the anaesthetic substance.

Moving quickly, Marathahalli Police apprehended the accused from Manipal, a university town in coastal Karnataka, on October 14.

Police believe that the accused utilized his medical knowledge to make the death appear natural.

"Evidence gathered thus far implicates the husband in the crime, as he was the person who initially brought her to the hospital without mentioning anything suspicious. He claimed she was in poor health and undergoing treatment. We have now discovered she was injected with sedatives, indicating malicious intent, which requires further investigation," said Seemanth Kumar Singh, Bengaluru Police Commissioner.

The accused is currently in police custody, and the investigation continues.

This case has generated widespread shock throughout the medical community, with police investigating whether the accused had planned the act beforehand.