Bengaluru: Bengaluru has been left shaken by the chilling story of Dr Kruthika M Reddy’s death—a case that began as a suspected natural death and turned into one of the city’s most shocking murders. Months after her passing, her father, Muni Reddy, has donated the Rs 3 crore house he built for her to ISKCON, a gesture meant to honour her memory even as the truth behind her death continues to haunt the family.
According to reports, Kruthika, a Bengaluru-based doctor, was brought dead to Cauvery Hospital on April 24 this year. Her husband, Mahendra Reddy, also a doctor, had reportedly told the family that she had suffered sudden health complications linked to gastric issues. The family initially accepted the explanation, but her sister, Nikitha Reddy, felt something was wrong. It was her refusal to accept the “natural death” theory that cracked open the case.
Nikitha’s persistent questioning led to the registration of a medico-legal case. A subsequent forensic examination revealed the presence of propofol, a powerful anaesthetic, in Kruthika’s organs and in medical equipment seized from Mahendra’s residence. The findings turned what was believed to be a medical emergency into a calculated homicide.
Police investigations later found that Mahendra had allegedly used his medical expertise to administer controlled doses of anaesthesia to his wife, making the death appear natural. No attempt at CPR was made, despite his training as a doctor. After months of investigation, he was arrested in Manipal on October 14.
The murder motive stemmed from multiple factors—domestic disputes, resentment over undisclosed health issues, financial disagreements, and a suspected extramarital affair, Hindustan Times reported. According to the family, Mahendra was upset after learning of Kruthika’s long-standing gastric and metabolic conditions, which he claimed were hidden from him before marriage. The couple, who had married in May 2024, had also argued over investments and the financial burden of their lavish wedding. Police sources told TOI that the relationship had grown strained, and Mahendra allegedly planned the murder in advance, using his knowledge of anaesthetic drugs to ensure she would never wake up.
For Kruthika’s father, the tragedy has been unbearable. “I built that house for her happiness,” he told reporters, adding that he no longer had the strength to live there. He decided to donate the property, valued at Rs 3 crore, to ISKCON in his daughter’s name, saying it would bring him peace and keep her memory alive.
The family continues to demand the strictest punishment for Mahendra, calling his act “a betrayal beyond forgiveness.” The police have booked him under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (murder) and are examining his communications, financial transactions, and hospital records to build the final case.