Woman's body found in suitcase at Bengaluru's Ramohalli Lake, third such case in months
Synopsis
A suitcase containing a woman's body was pulled from Ramohalli Lake in Bengaluru on 21 July — the third such case in the city in under five months. With the victim's identity unknown and no arrests made, Bengaluru police face mounting pressure over a disturbing pattern of suitcase killings that has gripped the city since early 2025.
Key Takeaways
A woman's body stuffed inside a suitcase was found floating in Ramohalli Lake , Bengaluru , on 21 July .
Local residents spotted the suitcase and alerted police; senior officials visited the scene and registered a suspicious death case.
Police suspect the body was dumped two to three days before discovery; the victim's identity is yet to be established.
DCP Anita Haddannavar of the South West Division said details would be shared once preliminary inputs are gathered.
This is the third suitcase-body incident in Bengaluru since March 2025 , following the Doddakammanahalli case and the Chandapura case involving a 17-year-old girl from Bihar.
A woman's body stuffed inside a suitcase was recovered from Ramohalli Lake on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Tuesday, 21 July, police confirmed. The suitcase was spotted floating in the lake by local residents, who immediately alerted authorities. The incident falls under the jurisdiction of Kumbalgodu Police Station in the city's South West division.
How the Body Was Discovered
Residents near Ramohalli Lake noticed the suitcase floating in the water and contacted police, who rushed to the scene and retrieved it. Senior police officials subsequently visited the spot and conducted an on-site inspection. The case has been registered as suspicious, and a formal investigation is underway.
Police suspect the body may have been dumped in the lake two to three days before its discovery, though this has not been confirmed. The identity of the deceased and the exact cause of death are yet to be established.
What Officials Have Said
South West Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Anita Haddannavar told reporters that no information is currently available and that details would be shared with the media once preliminary inputs are gathered. No arrests have been announced as of Tuesday.
A Disturbing Pattern in Bengaluru
This is at least the third suitcase-body incident reported in Bengaluru in recent months, raising serious concerns about the city's crime landscape.
In March 2025, project manager Rakesh Rajendra Khedekar (36) allegedly fatally stabbed his wife, Gauri Anil Sambekar (32), stuffed her body into a trolley suitcase, and abandoned it in their rented duplex in Doddakammanahalli. Khedekar fled the city but was subsequently traced and detained by Bengaluru City Police in Pune. According to investigators, he confessed to the killing following domestic altercations.
In June 2025, police arrested eight people — including a minor — in connection with the death of a 17-year-old girl from Bihar whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase near railway tracks in the city's Chandapura area. The girl had reportedly been brought to Karnataka on 18 May by a man who had promised to marry her. Her body was discovered near a railway bridge on 21 May. The main accused, Ashiq Kumar (30), worked as a factory helper.
Investigation Status
Forensic teams are examining the body and the suitcase for clues. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the death is linked to any known missing persons case. The Kumbalgodu Police Station is leading the probe, with senior divisional officers monitoring the investigation closely.
As Bengaluru police work to establish the identity of the deceased and the circumstances of her death, this latest incident underscores a troubling trend that investigators will be under pressure to address swiftly.
Point of View
Let alone a coordinated task force to investigate it. DCP Haddannavar's statement that 'no information is available' is procedurally defensible but strategically inadequate when public trust in urban safety is already strained. The speed with which the Doddakammanahalli and Chandapura cases were cracked offers some reassurance — but only if investigators treat this third case with equal urgency from day one.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the suitcase containing the woman's body found in Bengaluru?
The suitcase was recovered from Ramohalli Lake, which falls under the jurisdiction of Kumbalgodu Police Station in Bengaluru's South West division. Local residents spotted it floating in the lake on 21 July and alerted police.
Has the identity of the woman found in the suitcase been established?
No. As of 21 July, the identity of the deceased has not been confirmed. Police are conducting a forensic examination and investigation to establish who she was and the cause of death.
How long ago was the body dumped, according to police?
Police suspect the body was dumped in Ramohalli Lake approximately two to three days before its discovery on 21 July, though this has not been officially confirmed pending forensic analysis.
What are the previous suitcase murder cases in Bengaluru?
In March 2025, Rakesh Rajendra Khedekar allegedly killed his wife Gauri Anil Sambekar and stuffed her body in a suitcase in Doddakammanahalli; he was arrested in Pune. In June 2025, eight people were arrested after a 17-year-old girl from Bihar was found dead in a suitcase near railway tracks in Chandapura.
What action has Bengaluru police taken so far in the Ramohalli Lake case?
Senior officials including DCP Anita Haddannavar have inspected the site. The case has been registered as suspicious and an investigation is underway, though no arrests have been made and no further details have been released publicly as of 21 July.
