In a significant development in a high-profile murder case that shocked Bengaluru, the city police have filed a voluminous chargesheet against a surgeon accused of killing his doctor wife. The 2,322-page document was presented before a local court on Friday, detailing a complex web of evidence against Dr Mahendra Reddy, the husband of the deceased Dr Krutika Reddy.
A Mountain of Evidence and Witness Statements
The chargesheet is the culmination of a meticulous investigation launched after the mysterious death of Dr Krutika Reddy last year. The prosecution has built its case on the statements of 77 witnesses, which include family members, friends, colleagues, and crucially, 23 fellow doctors. Special Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar praised the investigative work of Marathahalli police inspector Anil Kumar PN and sub-inspector Ravichandra SA for gathering multiple forms of evidence to construct a strong case.
According to the prosecutor, five major pieces of evidence strongly establish the case against Dr Mahendra Reddy and are likely to lead to his conviction. One of the most critical elements is a voluntary statement given by the accused himself to the police. In it, Dr Mahendra Reddy stated, "I administered medicine through a cannula to my wife on the night of April 23. We slept at midnight. Around 4.30am, I woke up and removed the cannula." The prosecution argues this statement places the accused with the victim during the crucial hours preceding her death.
The Crucial Medical and Digital Trail
Forensic medical evidence plays a central role in the chargesheet. The prosecution revealed that tests detected traces of propofol anaesthesia in Dr Krutika Reddy's body. Notably, these traces were also found on her legs, indicating the drug was administered externally through that site. Propofol is a powerful sedative typically used in controlled medical settings.
Further tightening the noose, investigators have presented circumstantial and electronic evidence showing that Dr Mahendra Reddy himself purchased the propofol from a pharmacist. "He made the payment online using his own mobile phone and his own bank account," the prosecutor noted, creating a clear digital trail linking him directly to the drug.
Motive and Alleged Confession
The chargesheet also delves into the alleged motive and contains what the prosecution terms a confession. After Dr Krutika's death, the accused allegedly sent messages to a woman friend via a payment app, stating he had killed his wife for her. When the woman reportedly replied that she had not accepted such an act, he allegedly responded that he would remain a killer while she should live happily. "These messages clearly establish the motive and amount to a confession by the accused," Prasanna Kumar asserted.
Another damning point raised by the prosecution is the accused's alleged conduct after the death. Being a doctor himself, he is accused of opposing a postmortem examination and pressuring his father-in-law and others to resist an autopsy, falsely claiming the body would be cut into pieces. "Being a doctor, he knew an autopsy would reveal the real cause of death," the prosecutor said.
The filing of this comprehensive chargesheet marks a pivotal step towards trial in a case that has gripped public attention, highlighting a tragic tale of betrayal within the medical community of Bengaluru.
