Bengaluru, Oct 16: A shocking twist to what was once believed a natural death has unveiled a chilling crime inside a doctor’s home. Police have arrested 32-year-old general surgeon Dr. Mahendra Reddy of Victoria Hospital for allegedly murdering his wife, Dr. Kruthika Reddy, a 28-year-old dermatologist, by administering a fatal dose of anesthesia under the guise of medical treatment.
The couple, who married less than a year ago on May 26, 2024, appeared to share a promising life together — until six months later, Kruthika’s mysterious death on April 24 was reclassified as murder.
A Surgeon’s Calculated Crime
Police said Mahendra, using his medical expertise and intimate knowledge of his wife’s health, executed the killing “with clinical precision.”
“Mahendra had planned his wife’s murder meticulously. He knew her medical vulnerabilities and exploited them,” said Whitefield DCP M. Parashuram.
According to investigators, on April 21, Mahendra administered an intravenous (IV) medication at their home, claiming it was for gastric discomfort. The next evening, he took Kruthika to her parents’ house in Marathahalli, saying she needed rest — only to return later that night to inject another dose.
When Kruthika complained of pain at the IV site on April 23, Mahendra advised her via WhatsApp not to remove it, assuring her he would visit that night. Around 9:30 p.m., he allegedly administered a fatal anesthetic dose.
By morning, Kruthika was found unresponsive. Despite being a doctor, Mahendra made no attempt to resuscitate her. She was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
Truth Unearthed Months Later
Initially, Kruthika’s death was written off as natural. But the postmortem and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports later confirmed traces of anesthetic agents in her organs — turning what looked like a tragedy into a deliberate act of murder.
Police then converted the Unnatural Death Report (UDR) into a murder case and arrested Mahendra on October 14, under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Family’s Heartbreak
Kruthika’s father, K. Muni Reddy, whose complaint revived the case, said their faith was shattered.
“Our daughter believed her marriage was built on love and respect. But the same hands that could heal others ended her life,” he said, his voice breaking.
Investigations revealed that Mahendra had grown resentful after discovering Kruthika’s pre-existing gastric and metabolic conditions, which her family allegedly had not disclosed before the wedding. Police believe this resentment festered into a cold-blooded plan.
Calm After the Crime
Even after her death, Mahendra reportedly remained unnervingly composed, behaving as though it were a medical mishap. Investigators said he showed no remorse or emotion when questioned.
Justice and Grief
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh commended his team for “unraveling a murder that had been disguised as a medical tragedy.”
Before her death, Kruthika had been preparing to launch her own skin clinic, Skin & Scalpel, on May 4 — just ten days after she was killed.
A brilliant student and compassionate doctor, Kruthika completed her MBBS from Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, MD from Navodaya Medical College, Raichur, and DNB in Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy from NBEMS.
Her colleagues at Victoria Hospital described her as dedicated and kind.
“She always dreamed of empowering women through dermatology,” said one colleague. “It’s devastating that the person she trusted most turned out to be her destroyer.” (Agencies)
