Police in Bengaluru are intensifying their investigation into the brutal murder of a 39-year-old assistant bank manager, with a critical piece of the puzzle—an alleged divorce notice—remaining elusive. The victim, Bhuvaneshwari, was shot dead, and her husband, Balamurugan (40), has been arrested as the prime accused.
The Accused's Claim and the Missing Evidence
According to officials from the Magadi Road police station, Balamurugan has stated that he was driven to commit the crime after learning that his wife, Bhuvaneshwari, had sent him a divorce notice. This claim of a legal notice is now a central focus of the probe. However, investigators have so far been unable to trace any physical or digital copy of such a notice.
Initial suspicions that the notice was sent electronically were dashed when no supporting evidence was found on the accused's mobile phone. A senior police officer revealed that some data had been deleted from the device, which has now been sent to forensic experts for data recovery. "At this stage, we are not certain whether any divorce notice was sent, as claimed by the accused," the officer stated.
A Premeditated Crime Unfolds
Police investigations paint a picture of a meticulously planned murder. Balamurugan, an MCA graduate who had quit his job at a private firm, reportedly confessed to plotting his wife's killing for nearly a year. As part of this alleged plan, he illegally procured a pistol much earlier and also purchased a knife as a backup weapon.
After moving to Cholourpalya, he allegedly searched for Bhuvaneshwari at multiple locations. A few days before the incident, he spotted her and began closely observing the route she regularly took while returning home from the Union Bank of India's Basaveshwaranagar branch, where she had recently been promoted and transferred.
The Day of the Murder and Ongoing Investigation
On Tuesday evening, the plan was executed. Balamurugan allegedly shot Bhuvaneshwari from behind. After the first bullet struck her head and she collapsed, he fired two more rounds, hitting her head, back, and left hand. While the accused claimed he bought the pistol and ammunition from Bihar, police said this information is yet to be verified.
Investigators are now pursuing multiple angles:
- Recording the statement of a friend through whom Balamurugan claimed to have learned about the divorce notice.
- Analyzing the call detail records of the accused.
- Conducting a thorough search of the accused's house for any incriminating material.
- Verifying the illegal weapon's source in Bihar.
The police have also confirmed that Bhuvaneshwari's transfer to the Basaveshwaranagar branch was an organizational decision and not made at her personal request. The investigation remains active as authorities work to piece together the complete motive and sequence of events behind this tragic crime.
