Bengaluru cops know who killed woman, stuffed her body parts in fridge; arrest soon

The prime suspect in the brutal murder of a woman, whose body was dismembered and stored in a fridge, has been identified, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda revealed on Monday. The horrific discovery was made by the victim's family, who found the remains at her home.

Speaking to the media, Commissioner Dayananda said, "We have clear information about the accused responsible for the crime. The investigation is ongoing to track and arrest the individual." He also noted that the suspect is from another state and was residing in Bengaluru. A full investigation will follow the suspect's arrest."

"We cannot divulge more details at this point, as it could aid the accused in evading capture," the commissioner added.

Family and Suspects Questioned

Police had earlier questioned Ashraf from Nelamangala after Mahalaxmi’s family, including her husband, suspected his involvement, along with three others. However, Ashraf was released after questioning.

Hemant Das, Mahalaxmi's husband, stated on Monday that the family is preparing to take her ashes to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu for immersion, hoping to bring peace to her soul after her violent death. He also mentioned that the family has not been informed by the police about any suspects yet.

Gruesome Discovery

The chilling incident occurred in the Veeranna Bhavana area near Pipeline Road, under the Vyalikaval police station. The body of 26-year-old Mahalaxmi, originally from Tripura and living alone in Bengaluru, was discovered chopped into 59 pieces. Her family made the horrifying discovery on Saturday after neighbors reported a foul smell coming from her residence.

Police arrived at the scene to find the victim's remains stuffed into a 165-litre refrigerator. Despite the fridge being operational, the body parts were infested with maggots. A suitcase was also found near the fridge. Investigators believe Mahalaxmi was killed earlier in the month, with her body dismembered using a sharp weapon like a knife or sword.

Victim's Background and Investigation Progress

Mahalaxmi, who worked at a popular mall, had been living in the house for about five to six months. She typically left for work in the morning and returned late at night, keeping to herself and not mingling with neighbors. Her brother had stayed with her briefly, and it was later discovered that she was married with a son but lived separately.

Special police teams from multiple stations, including Vyalikaval, Sheshadripuram, and High Grounds, have been formed to investigate the case. Police are questioning all individuals connected to the victim and are analyzing call records and CCTV footage from her neighborhood. Mahalaxmi’s mobile phone has been switched off since September 2, and police are tracking her communications and messages.

Similar Case from New Delhi

This gruesome case in Bengaluru bears similarities to the 2022 murder of Shraddha Walkar in New Delhi's Chattarpur area. In that case, Shraddha, 27, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Aaftab Amin Poonawala, who dismembered her body into 35 pieces and stored them in a fridge before disposing of them in a nearby forest.

IANS