Bengaluru murder case: Suspect dies by suicide in Odisha days after dismembered body of Mahalakshmi discovered

NEW DELHI: Mukthirajan Pratap Roy , the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of 26-year-old Mahalakshmi , was found dead in Odisha , having died by suicide, police sources confirmed on Wednesday. Roy, accused of dismembering Mahalakshmi’s body into more than 50 pieces and storing the remains in a refrigerator, allegedly hanged himself while on the run.

The murder, which shocked Bengaluru, had been under investigation by multiple police teams. According to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, authorities had tracked Roy’s location to Odisha. "The murder had shaken the entire city, and the police have taken this case very seriously," Parameshwara told reporters.

He confirmed that several police teams had been dispatched to Odisha to apprehend the suspect, who was believed to be constantly moving to evade capture.

The horrific crime came to light on Saturday when Mahalakshmi’s mother and elder sister discovered her maggot-infested, dismembered body in the fridge of her Vyalikaval home. Investigators had initially detained two or three individuals for questioning, but evidence pointed to Roy’s involvement.

The estranged husband of Mahalakshmi had earlier expressed suspicion about a man known to her, who lived nearby and had reportedly been in contact with her. Police had been pursuing Roy based on these leads.

With Roy’s death, further investigations into the case are expected to continue as authorities seek to uncover any additional accomplices or motives behind the brutal killing.