Karnataka man burns woman alive in car, kills himself near Bengaluru
Synopsis
A woman was allegedly burnt alive inside a car by her lover in Chikkaballapur district after she refused to leave her husband — the accused later died by suicide near Bengaluru. The case echoes a broader pattern of fatal relationship disputes in Karnataka, where courts have recently handed down life sentences in similar crimes.
Key Takeaways
Sujatha , 35 , from Devanahalli , was allegedly burnt alive inside a car near Jinke Bacchahalli , Doddaballapura , on 2 April 2025 .
Accused Ramanjinappa of Marasandra allegedly carried out the act after Sujatha reportedly refused to permanently leave her husband.
Ramanjinappa later died by suicide by jumping in front of a train near Bidadi , on the outskirts of Bengaluru .
The car used in the crime reportedly belonged to a third person named Suresh from Marasandra.
The case has been registered at Doddaballapura Rural Police Station ; investigation is ongoing.
In a comparable Mysuru case, a court sentenced Mahadevanayaka to life imprisonment in March 2025 for murdering his partner in July 2022 .
A woman was burnt alive inside a car and her alleged lover died by suicide in a case linked to a disputed relationship in Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka, police confirmed on Tuesday, 5 May 2025. The incident occurred near Jinke Bacchahalli, close to Doddaballapura town, and has been registered at the Doddaballapura Rural Police Station.
What Happened
The deceased have been identified as Sujatha, 35, a resident of Devanahalli, and Ramanjinappa, a resident of Marasandra. According to police, Ramanjinappa had allegedly set fire to a car in which Sujatha was seated on 2 April, killing her. He subsequently fled the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Ramanjinappa had separated from his wife approximately four months before the incident. Sujatha had reportedly been living with him during that period. Police allege he had been pressuring her to permanently leave her husband, a demand she reportedly refused.
The Vehicle and the Accused's Flight
Police investigations revealed that the car used in the crime belonged to a person named Suresh from Marasandra. It is alleged that Ramanjinappa had taken the vehicle from Suresh before using it to carry out the act. After setting the car ablaze, Ramanjinappa went into hiding while police launched a search operation.
Accused Found Dead Near Bidadi
Ramanjinappa was subsequently found dead near Bidadi on the outskirts of Bengaluru, having reportedly died by suicide by jumping in front of a train. Police believe he took his life fearing arrest. Investigation into both deaths is ongoing.
A Pattern of Similar Cases in Karnataka
This incident comes against the backdrop of a comparable case from Mysuru. In March 2025, a court sentenced Mahadevanayaka of Halepura village, Kavalande, to imprisonment until natural death for the murder of a woman he had been in a relationship with for approximately 20 years. Mahadevanayaka had killed the woman in July 2022 after she lodged a police complaint against him following a dispute. The court handed down a life sentence, underscoring the judiciary's stance on such crimes.
The Chikkaballapur case remains under active investigation, with police yet to file a final chargesheet.
Point of View
And the courts have begun responding with maximum sentences. What warrants scrutiny is the gap between the alleged crime date of 2 April and the reporting date of 5 May: why did it take over a month for this case to surface publicly, and what does that say about local accountability mechanisms? The broader pattern — men turning lethal when women assert autonomy over their own relationships — demands a policy response beyond individual prosecutions, including stronger early-intervention protocols at police stations when such disputes are first reported.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Chikkaballapur woman burnt alive case?
A woman named Sujatha, 35, from Devanahalli was allegedly burnt alive inside a car near Jinke Bacchahalli, Doddaballapura, on 2 April 2025 by her alleged lover Ramanjinappa. The accused subsequently died by suicide by jumping in front of a train near Bidadi, Bengaluru.
Who are the deceased in the Doddaballapura murder-suicide case?
The deceased are Sujatha, a 35-year-old woman from Devanahalli, and Ramanjinappa, a resident of Marasandra. Both have been identified by police following investigations registered at Doddaballapura Rural Police Station.
Why did Ramanjinappa allegedly kill Sujatha?
According to police, Ramanjinappa had been pressuring Sujatha to permanently leave her husband and live with him. When she reportedly refused, the situation escalated and he allegedly set fire to the car in which she was seated.
How did Ramanjinappa die?
Ramanjinappa reportedly died by suicide by jumping in front of a train near Bidadi on the outskirts of Bengaluru, allegedly fearing arrest after police launched a search for him.
Is this the first such case in Karnataka recently?
No. In March 2025, a Mysuru court sentenced Mahadevanayaka of Halepura village to life imprisonment until natural death for murdering a woman he had been in a relationship with for 20 years, a crime committed in July 2022.
