Bengaluru girl Vennila's death ruled murder; mother, partner booked
Synopsis
What was logged as an unnatural death in Bengaluru three months ago has unravelled into a murder case — a six-year-old allegedly strangled by her mother's partner over something as trivial as an ice cream flavour. The cover-up lasted 12 hours and might have held, had the child's father not sought a second opinion from a paediatric specialist abroad.
Key Takeaways
Six-year-old Vennila died on 25 March at a villa in Seegehalli, Kadugodi, Bengaluru ; the case was initially registered as an unnatural death.
Police have now registered a murder case against the child's mother, Priyanka P. , and her alleged live-in partner, Mohan J.
Investigators allege Mohan punched and then strangled Vennila after she asked for a different ice cream flavour.
The accused allegedly spent nearly 12 hours with the child's body and drove around the city before reporting the death.
The case was cracked after the child's father, Praveen Basappa , shared the post-mortem report with a UK-based paediatric specialist who raised concerns.
Police are awaiting the FSL report ; investigation is ongoing.
A case of murder has been registered against a Bengaluru mother and her alleged live-in partner, three months after the death of six-year-old Vennila at a villa in the Kadugodi area was initially recorded as an unnatural death. Police have revealed deeply disturbing details of alleged abuse and a deliberate cover-up following the incident on 25 March at Seegehalli, under the limits of the Kadugodi police station.
How the Murder Case Came to Light
The case was originally logged as an unnatural death. It was the child's father, Praveen Basappa, a resident of Davanagere, who first raised suspicions. He obtained the post-mortem report and shared it with a relative — a paediatric specialist based in the United Kingdom — who reportedly flagged concerns about the circumstances of the child's death. Armed with this, Praveen approached the police, alleging his daughter had been assaulted and suffocated. Investigators subsequently dug deeper, ultimately registering a murder case against Vennila's mother, Priyanka P., and her alleged partner, Mohan J. Mahaningappa.
What Police Say Happened
According to investigators, the alleged trigger for the fatal assault was a trivial request: Vennila reportedly asked for a different flavour of ice cream. Police allege that Mohan responded by punching the child in the abdomen with a closed fist. When she began crying in pain, he allegedly strangled her to death. After the killing, according to police, both accused spent nearly 12 hours with the child's body and drove around the city in their car before reporting the death to anyone.
Background: A Fractured Family
According to the complaint filed by Praveen, he and Priyanka were married in 2007 and have two daughters. He alleged that Priyanka rekindled a relationship with her college friend Mohan in late 2025 and subsequently moved to Bengaluru to live with him after seeking a divorce. Their elder daughter remained with Praveen in Davanagere, while Vennila lived with Priyanka. Mohan had reportedly left his own wife and children for Priyanka and had purchased the villa where Priyanka and Vennila were residing.
Contradictions That Deepened Suspicion
When Praveen first sought details about his daughter's death — after being informed by Priyanka's brother on 25 March — Priyanka allegedly offered conflicting accounts. She claimed on one occasion that the child had eaten biryani the previous night; on another, she said Vennila had been given ice cream and was left sleeping inside an air-conditioned car while she and Mohan attended a birthday celebration. These inconsistencies, combined with the paediatric specialist's observations, formed the basis of Praveen's formal complaint to police.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
Investigators allege that Vennila was subjected to repeated abuse, as Mohan reportedly viewed her as an obstacle to his relationship with Priyanka. Praveen further alleged in his complaint that the couple was exploring IVF options to have a child together and had planned to begin a new life — making Vennila, in his account, an impediment they chose to eliminate. Police are currently awaiting the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report and other expert opinions. The investigation remains ongoing.
Point of View
Without rigorous forensic scrutiny from day one, gave the accused a three-month window. It took a grieving father, a foreign medical opinion, and persistent pressure to reclassify what investigators now describe as a calculated killing. The pattern — a child perceived as inconvenient to an adult relationship, repeated abuse preceding a fatal assault, and a staged cover-up — is not unique to this case, and that should trouble child protection authorities in Karnataka far more than the individual crime itself.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is six-year-old Vennila and what happened to her?
Vennila was a six-year-old girl living with her mother, Priyanka P., at a villa in Seegehalli, Kadugodi, Bengaluru. She died on 25 March under circumstances initially recorded as an unnatural death. Police have since registered a murder case, alleging she was punched and strangled by her mother's live-in partner, Mohan J. Mahaningappa.
Why has a murder case been registered only three months after the death?
The case was initially logged as an unnatural death. The child's father, Praveen Basappa, grew suspicious of contradictory accounts given by the mother and shared the post-mortem report with a UK-based paediatric specialist, who raised concerns. This prompted Praveen to file a formal complaint, leading police to investigate further and ultimately register a murder case.
What do police allege was the motive behind the killing?
According to investigators, Mohan J. Mahaningappa allegedly viewed Vennila as an obstacle to his relationship with Priyanka. Police allege the child was subjected to repeated abuse, and the fatal assault was reportedly triggered when she asked for a different flavour of ice cream.
What is the current status of the investigation?
A murder case has been registered against both Priyanka P. and Mohan J. Mahaningappa. Police are awaiting the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report and other expert opinions. The investigation is ongoing.
Who raised the alarm about Vennila's death being suspicious?
Vennila's father, Praveen Basappa of Davanagere, raised the alarm after Priyanka gave him contradictory explanations about the child's death. He obtained the post-mortem report and shared it with a relative who is a paediatric specialist in the United Kingdom; that doctor's concerns prompted Praveen to approach the police.
