What was initially believed to be a mysterious death case in Bengaluru has now taken a chilling turn. Six months after the death of Kruthika M Reddy, police have arrested her husband, Dr. Mahendra Reddy, for allegedly plotting and executing her murder using intravenous (IV) drugs.
The case, which shook Bengaluru’s medical and legal circles, has exposed disturbing details of how the doctor allegedly misused his medical knowledge and access to facilities to administer a fatal dose to his wife — barely a year into their marriage.
Kruthika, who reportedly had long-standing gastric and metabolic disorders, was given multiple IV doses under the pretext of treatment. According to investigators, Mahendra allegedly began administering the first IV dose in April this year.
Using his professional access to hospital OT and ICU facilities, the doctor allegedly obtained anaesthetic drugs and administered excess quantities to Kruthika, causing respiratory depression that eventually led to her death.
Mysterious Death Now a Murder Case
When Kruthika was found dead in April, the cause of her death remained unknown. Police filed an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) and seized a cannula set, injection tube, and other medical items used during the incident.
“The death initially appeared unexplained, but evidence collected at the scene raised several red flags,” an investigating officer said.
Over the following weeks, forensic experts at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examined her viscera samples. Their report detected traces of the sedative Propofol — a substance that can suppress breathing at high doses.
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The forensic findings alarmed Kruthika’s father, Muni Reddy, who then filed a complaint accusing Mahendra of killing his daughter by administering sedatives.
“I grew suspicious when I learned about the sedatives in her body. My daughter trusted him, but he betrayed her,” Muni Reddy alleged.
Police subsequently arrested Mahendra after piecing together forensic, medical, and digital evidence.
Timeline: IV Doses, WhatsApp Messages and No CPR
According to police, after the first IV dose, Mahendra took Kruthika to her parents’ house claiming she needed rest. He returned later and administered another dose, worsening her condition.
On April 23, Kruthika complained of pain at the IV site. Over WhatsApp, Mahendra allegedly advised her not to remove it. Around 9:30 pm, he entered her room and administered an injection.
She was found unresponsive the next morning. Shockingly, despite being a doctor, Mahendra did not perform CPR. She was later declared dead.
Motive Behind the Murder
Police said Mahendra was allegedly upset over Kruthika’s pre-existing medical conditions, which her family had reportedly not disclosed before their marriage in May 2024.
“Mahendra visited her under the pretext of offering medical care and allegedly administered IV injections containing anaesthetic agents over two days before she lost consciousness,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) told Hindustan Times.
Additionally, Kruthika’s father has accused Mahendra of making large monetary demands, including building a private hospital, and of having an extramarital relationship.
“This case sends a clear message: misuse of medical knowledge for criminal purposes will be met with the harshest legal consequences,” a senior police officer said.
Mahendra has been arrested and remanded to police custody, while the investigation continues.
