Did a Surgeon Murder His Dermatologist Wife with Anaesthesia?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Surgeon arrested for the alleged murder of his wife.
- Victim identified as 29-year-old dermatologist Kruthika M. Reddy.
- Family claims misuse of medical knowledge in the crime.
- Postmortem results indicated deliberate drug administration.
- Accused pressured the family against filing a complaint.
Bengaluru, Oct 15 (NationPress) A surgeon has been taken into custody on allegations of murdering his dermatologist spouse by administering an overdose of anaesthesia in Bengaluru, as reported by the police on Wednesday.
The incident took place within the jurisdiction of the Marathahalli police station.
The victim has been named as Kruthika M. Reddy, a 29-year-old dermatologist. The suspect is her husband, Mahendra Reddy G.S., a practicing surgeon.
He was apprehended on Tuesday in Udupi, just hours after the First Information Report (FIR) was filed.
This tragic event occurred on May 26, 2024. The initial complaint was lodged by Nikita M. Reddy, the victim’s sister. The police categorized it as an unnatural death case. Following a recent complaint by the victim's father, Muni Reddy K., on Tuesday, the police re-registered the FIR under Section 103 of the BNS Act.
Kruthika Reddy's family has asserted in the complaint, "Postmortem findings revealed the presence of 'Propofol', a controlled anaesthetic agent meant solely for operation theatre use, in various organs of the deceased. Investigative results suggest that the drug was intentionally administered intravenously, leading to fatal respiratory depression."
Moreover, the family alleges that Mahendra Reddy exploited his professional access to obtain and administer the drug. He reportedly tried to mask the act as a natural death and pressured the family against filing a police report or insisting on a postmortem.
They also claim that the accused concealed a criminal history at the time of marriage.
The victim's father, Muni Reddy, stated, "Kruthika placed her complete trust in her husband. The medical expertise of her spouse, which should have preserved lives, was instead used to end hers. Our family seeks the strongest possible punishment for this premeditated act and justice for our daughter."
He added, "Kruthika was on the verge of starting her own clinic in Marathahalli. The accused was demanding that we establish a hospital for him. We had already arranged a clinic for him. When she asked him to pay for the equipment, it infuriated him. We are also learning about his past affair."
"After her death, the accused nearly persuaded us not to file a police complaint or ask for a postmortem. My elder daughter Nikitha, a Radiologist, insisted that her 28-year-old sister couldn’t have died naturally and advocated for the postmortem. At the hospital, the accused even attempted to enter the autopsy room, but the police barred him," he recounted.
Mohan Reddy, the deceased's brother-in-law, remarked that Kruthika's death represents a significant loss to society.
"By demanding the strictest punishment for the accused, we aim to ensure that no other woman endures such severe injustice," he stated, also expressing gratitude to police inspector Anil Kumar and Sub-Inspector Ravichandra for their prompt actions.
The police are continuing their investigation into the case.