Bengaluru triple murder: Arrested daughter said mother kept her 'like a prisoner'
Synopsis
A daughter who allegedly killed her mother, father, and younger sister in Bengaluru told police she had been treated ‘like a prisoner’ for years — a claim investigators are scrutinising alongside forensic evidence. Her live-in partner Kenneth, suspected as a co-accused, remains on the run after a 300-km motorcycle flight that ended only when their bike broke down near Puducherry.
Key Takeaways
Shwetha was arrested at Puducherry Railway Station in connection with the murders of her parents and sister in Seegehalli, east Bengaluru on Monday .
The victims are Somasundar (55), Muthulakshmi (48), and Supriya (20).
Shwetha reportedly told police her mother had treated her ‘like a prisoner’ for years and attempted to take sole responsibility for the killings.
Police suspect both Shwetha and her live-in partner Kenneth were involved, based on crime scene evidence.
The accused travelled nearly 300 kilometres on a motorcycle before Shwetha was caught; Kenneth remains absconding.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed; the search for Kenneth is ongoing.
The elder daughter arrested in connection with the Bengaluru triple murder has reportedly told investigators that she killed her mother because she had been treated “like a prisoner” for years, according to police on Thursday, 26 June 2025. The killings took place at an apartment in Seegehalli, under the K.R. Puram police station limits in east Bengaluru, on Monday. Police have intensified their search for the accused’s live-in partner, Kenneth, who remains absconding.
The Victims and the Accused
The three people killed were Somasundar (55), a software professional; his wife Muthulakshmi (48); and their younger daughter Supriya (20), a college student. The accused, their elder daughter Shwetha, and her boyfriend Kenneth, allegedly carried out the killings at Shwetha’s apartment. During interrogation, Shwetha reportedly claimed she had harboured deep resentment toward her mother for several years, alleging that Muthulakshmi had been extremely strict with her from school through college and had denied her personal freedom. Shwetha also reportedly attempted to take sole responsibility for the murders, claiming Kenneth had no role — a claim police have disputed based on crime scene evidence and the nature of injuries sustained by the victims.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to investigators, the sequence of events began on Sunday when Muthulakshmi visited Shwetha’s residence. Arguments reportedly broke out between the two, and Muthulakshmi stayed overnight. Police suspect that at around 1.30 pm on Monday, Shwetha and Kenneth murdered Muthulakshmi. The pair allegedly planned to shift her body to Kenneth’s rented residence in the HAL area but abandoned the idea fearing they would be noticed.
Later that evening, when repeated calls to Muthulakshmi went unanswered, Somasundar and Supriya arrived at the apartment. Police believe Supriya was stabbed to death shortly after entering the house, while Somasundar was attacked and killed moments later. The accused allegedly fled the scene before police arrived, and were subsequently traced to Kenneth’s rented house in Gururaja Layout, HAL area, where they are suspected of cleaning bloodstains from their bodies before leaving on a motorcycle.
The Manhunt and Shwetha’s Arrest
A special police team arrested Shwetha at Puducherry Railway Station following an extensive manhunt. Investigators said the accused duo switched off their mobile phones immediately after fleeing Bengaluru and avoided ATM cards and digital payments to remain untraceable. With limited digital evidence, police relied heavily on CCTV footage from highways and toll plazas, tracking the pair’s movements toward Tamil Nadu on a motorcycle. Police teams were deployed to Tiruchirappalli and Puducherry. The pair had reportedly travelled nearly 300 kilometres before their motorcycle broke down near Puducherry, allowing investigators to close in and arrest Shwetha. Kenneth, however, managed to evade capture and remains on the run.
Investigation Status
Police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to examine the case from multiple angles, including the motive behind the murders, the relationship between the accused, financial transactions, and forensic and circumstantial evidence. The search for Kenneth is continuing. Investigators have not yet disclosed a confirmed motive beyond Shwetha’s reported claims, and all findings remain subject to further verification.
Point of View
And the fact that Shwetha also tried to exonerate Kenneth suggests a deliberate strategy rather than a spontaneous confession. The deeper question this case raises is one Indian cities have repeatedly faced: when family conflict escalates to lethal violence inside private apartments, the warning signs are almost always invisible until it is too late. The SIT’s focus on financial transactions and the pair’s relationship history may yet reveal a more complex picture than a daughter’s grievance alone.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the victims in the Bengaluru triple murder case?
The three victims are Somasundar (55), a software professional; his wife Muthulakshmi (48); and their younger daughter Supriya (20), a college student. All three were allegedly killed at Shwetha’s apartment in Seegehalli, east Bengaluru, on Monday.
Why did Shwetha allegedly kill her family?
Shwetha reportedly told investigators that she had harboured resentment toward her mother for years, claiming Muthulakshmi had been extremely strict with her from school through college and had denied her personal freedom, treating her ‘like a prisoner.’ Police are verifying this claim alongside other evidence.
Who is Kenneth and why is he being sought?
Kenneth is Shwetha’s live-in partner and a suspected co-accused in the triple murder. Police believe both were involved in the killings based on crime scene evidence and the nature of injuries, despite Shwetha’s claim that he had no role. He remains absconding after evading arrest near Puducherry.
How did police track and arrest Shwetha?
After the accused switched off their phones and avoided digital payments, investigators relied on CCTV footage from highways and toll plazas. They tracked the pair travelling toward Tamil Nadu on a motorcycle. Shwetha was arrested at Puducherry Railway Station after the motorcycle reportedly broke down nearly 300 kilometres from Bengaluru.
What is the current status of the investigation?
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed and is examining the motive, the relationship between the accused, financial transactions, and forensic evidence. The search for Kenneth is ongoing. All findings remain subject to further investigation.
