A shocking murder case has taken place in Bengaluru, with a 22-year-old woman being strangled to death by her partner over her impending marriage. It happened in Tulasi Nagar in Tigalara Palya, under Byadarahalli Police Station and has sent a shockwave through the community.
The deceased was Bhavani (22) and worked at a mobile phone showroom in Bengaluru. The accused Chandrashekhar alias Chandan was said to have been in a relationship with Bhavani for several years. Police investigation revealed a troubled relationship that involved a secret marriage and a tragic end.
Bhavani and Chandrashekhar met first as she was working at the mobile showroom. Their friendship gradually turned into a romantic one, and the two were in love for 4 to 5 years. About a year ago, they are believed to have secretly married without telling their family or close friends of their marriage.
Investigators have also discovered that Chandrashekhar was already married and had a six-year-old child from his first marriage. Nevertheless, he maintained his relationship with Bhavani and eventually entered into a secret marriage with her.
The situation worsened when Bhavani’s family started to arrange for her to marry another person. It is said that her engagement will take place next week. Bhavani had informed Chandrashekhar about her family’s plans, and there was tension between the couple.
On the morning of the incident, Chandrashekhar visited Bhavani's rented room around 7:30 a.m. Police say the two had a long conversation about their future. Bhavani was worried her family would never accept her relationship if they realised about their secret marriage, the police said.
The couple first decided to end their lives together by taking poison, investigators say. Both then consumed some substance inside the room, but Bhavani began vomiting and survived the first attempt. Police believe Chandrashekhar then strangled her, causing her death.
After the murder, the accused allegedly ingested more poison in a bid to take his own life. Before the incident came to light, an Instagram story was uploaded from Bhavani's account with a picture of the couple and the date of their first wedding anniversary. Investigators believe that the post was done by Chandrashekhar.
Bhavani’s relatives were also aware of the social media post. Her aunt took a screenshot and shared it with Bhavani’s mother. Concerned by the post, Bhavani's father, Srinivas, tried to call his daughter, but she would not answer. Then he contacted the house owner and asked him to check on her.
When the house owner came in, the door was locked. When he opened it, he discovered Bhavani lying motionless while Chandrashekhar was struggling after consuming poison. The police were immediately informed.
Officers rushed to the scene immediately and took Chandrashekhar to the hospital for treatment. Doctors were able to save his life, and he’s now in police custody while he is on medical care. Bhavani’s body was sent for post-mortem examination.
Byadarahalli Police has registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation into the incident. Digital evidence, such as social media activity and communications between the couple, is being examined in order to establish the sequence of the events, the police said.
The tragic case has shown the devastating consequences of relationship problems, secrecy, and emotional distress, leaving both families grappling with an unimaginable loss.
