Digital Trail Exposes Alleged Murder Plot

A Bengaluru surgeon, Dr. Mahendra Reddy G.S., stands accused of murdering his wife, Dr. Kruthika Reddy, a dermatologist, by administering a lethal dose of anaesthesia. The case, which has shocked India's medical community, took a decisive turn after investigators uncovered a series of damning messages sent weeks after the crime. According to Bengaluru police, Dr. Reddy sent a chilling confession—“I killed my wife for you”—to at least four or five women he was pursuing. The message was reportedly sent through the transaction notes of a digital payment app, PhonePe, after one of the women blocked him on other communication platforms, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) K. Parashurama.

From Natural Death to Homicide Investigation

Dr. Kruthika Reddy, 29, died on Wednesday, April 24, 2025 (EAT). Initially, her death was not considered suspicious. Her husband had rushed her to a private hospital, claiming she had collapsed at her father's home in Marathahalli, Bengaluru, where she was staying due to health issues. However, the victim's family, particularly her sister Dr. Nikitha Reddy, insisted on a post-mortem examination, despite Dr. Mahendra Reddy's alleged objections. The case was registered as an unnatural death. A breakthrough came nearly six months later when a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) toxicology report revealed the presence of Propofol, a powerful anaesthetic restricted to surgical settings, in her organs. This finding led police to reclassify the case as murder. Dr. Mahendra Reddy was subsequently arrested on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (EAT), in Manipal, Udupi district.

A Pattern of Deception and Manipulation

The police investigation has unearthed a disturbing pattern of alleged deceit. Authorities report that Dr. Reddy, a general surgeon at Victoria Hospital where his wife also worked, had contacted multiple women. In one instance, he had previously proposed to a woman from Mumbai. After their relationship ended, he allegedly had his father inform her that he had died in an accident. In September 2025, months after his wife's death, he reportedly re-established contact with the same woman, admitting he had faked his death. He allegedly claimed his astrological chart had predicted his first wife would die and proposed to her again.

Global Implications and Lack of Local Connection

While this case has no direct ties to Kenya or the East Africa region, it serves as a stark global reminder of how specialized professional knowledge can be weaponized in domestic contexts. The alleged use of a controlled anaesthetic agent to commit murder and disguise it as a natural death highlights a profound breach of medical ethics. The digital trail, particularly the confession via a payment app, underscores the increasing role of forensic technology in solving complex crimes. The incident has prompted widespread discussion in India about intimate partner violence and the psychological profiles of perpetrators in positions of trust. As the legal proceedings continue, Dr. Reddy remains in judicial custody while investigators gather further evidence from his seized electronic devices and witness statements. The case is expected to proceed on charges of murder, destruction of evidence, and misuse of professional access to controlled medical substances.