As chilling details surrounding the brutal murder of 29-year-old Mahalakshmi in Bengaluru emerge, her estranged husband, Hemanth, has accused her of being involved in an illicit relationship with a man named Ashraf, who he believes could be connected to the heinous crime.
Mahalakshmi’s dismembered body, cut into at least 59 pieces, was discovered stuffed inside a refrigerator in her one-bedroom apartment in Malleshwaram on September 21. The grisly discovery was made after neighbors complained of a foul smell emanating from her residence. Her mother and sister, upon entering the apartment, found the maggot-infested remains inside the fridge.
Speaking to the media, Hemanth, who had been married to Mahalakshmi for six years but was estranged for the past nine months, alleged that Mahalakshmi was involved with Ashraf, a barber originally from Uttarakhand. Hemanth claimed that a First Information Report (FIR) had been filed against Ashraf months earlier but did not specify the details of the case. He expressed certainty that Ashraf was involved in his wife’s murder and revealed that Mahalakshmi had been in contact with Ashraf since April or May 2023.
“I have filed a complaint against Ashraf. He had an extra-marital affair with Mahalakshmi,” Hemanth told reporters, adding that he was unaware of Ashraf’s connection to his wife until recently.
Mahalakshmi’s mother, Meena Rana, described the horrifying moment when she discovered her daughter’s body. “The building owner informed me about the foul smell. When I opened the door, I saw Mahalakshmi’s body cut into pieces,” she said, devastated.
Mahalakshmi’s sister also demanded justice. “Who cuts a woman into pieces like this? I want the accused to face the harshest punishment,” she urged.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda confirmed that the prime suspect had been identified as a man from Odisha, who was residing in Bengaluru. The suspect is believed to have fled to West Bengal, and multiple police teams have been dispatched to track him down. Several individuals are currently being questioned in connection with the case.
“We are investigating all possible angles. The prime suspect has been identified but is yet to be apprehended. Once he is in custody, we will have more clarity,” Commissioner Dayananda told the media.
