Chilling details on how Bengaluru doctor skillfully planned murder of wife with anesthesia

In a chilling case that has rocked Bengaluru's medical community, a 32-year-old surgeon has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, a fellow doctor, using a lethal dose of anesthesia, less than a year into their marriage.

Dr Mahendra Reddy, a general surgeon at Victoria Hospital, was arrested on October 14 after forensic reports confirmed that his wife, Dr Kruthika Reddy, a 28-year-old dermatologist, died from anesthetic substances found in her system.

The couple had married on May 26, 2024. As per police, Mahendra found Kruthika had some health issues, something her family allegedly hadn’t disclosed before the wedding.

Murder disguised as medical treatment

According to the investigation, Mahendra used his medical knowledge and access to drugs to meticulously plan his wife’s murder. On April 21, he reportedly administered an intravenous injection to Kruthika at their home, saying it was for gastric discomfort. The following day, he took her to her parents’ home in Marathahalli, under the pretense she needed rest.

Despite Kruthika’s complaints of pain at the IV site on April 23, Mahendra allegedly advised her not to remove it, even over WhatsApp, and returned later that night to give her another dose.

By the next morning, April 24, Kruthika was found unresponsive.

Though he was a trained surgeon, Mahendra allegedly made no effort to perform CPR. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and declared dead on arrival.

Forensics reveal foul play

Initially written off as a sudden, natural death, suspicions grew after the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and postmortem reports revealed the presence of anesthetic agents in Kruthika’s body.

Police subsequently reclassified the case from an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) to murder, following a complaint filed by her father, K Muni Reddy.

"Our daughter believed her marriage was built on love and respect. But that trust was betrayed,” he said.

Maintaining a facade

Even after her death, Mahendra reportedly showed no emotion and insisted Kruthika’s death was a tragic medical episode. Police officials, however, believe otherwise.

“Mahendra planned this murder with clinical precision. He exploited his wife’s medical vulnerabilities using his professional expertise,” said DCP M Parashuram (Whitefield).

He has now been booked under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Dr Kruthika Reddy was preparing to launch her own clinic, Skin & Scalpel, on May 4, just days after her untimely death. A dedicated dermatologist with degrees from Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Navodaya Medical College and NBEMS.

“She was full of hope and ambition. It’s heartbreaking that her life was ended by someone she trusted most,” said one of her colleagues at Victoria Hospital.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh praised the investigators for uncovering what he called a “murder masked as a medical tragedy”.

 With PTI inputs