Bengaluru woman, 70, beaten to death by daughter and grandson over drinking objection
Synopsis
A 70-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death with a cricket bat and wooden club by her own daughter and grandson inside a Bengaluru apartment after she objected to their drinking — the second such case in Karnataka within weeks, raising urgent questions about alcohol-fuelled domestic violence targeting elderly relatives.
Key Takeaways
Jayamma, 70 , was allegedly beaten to death by her daughter Bhagyalakshmi, 49 , and grandson Kushal, 26 , at Monisha Enclave Apartment, Kengeri, Bengaluru on 22 June 2025 .
The alleged assault, using a cricket bat and wooden club , took place between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. after Jayamma reportedly objected to their drinking.
Both accused have been arrested ; a murder case is registered at Kengeri Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita .
Kushal had previously been sent to a rehabilitation centre over alcohol-related disturbances but had returned home weeks before the incident.
In May 2025 , an 82-year-old woman in Kanakagiri was similarly killed by her grandson over a refusal to fund alcohol — the second such case in Karnataka within weeks.
A 70-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her daughter and grandson inside an apartment in Bengaluru's Kengeri locality on 22 June 2025, after she reportedly objected to their alcohol consumption, police said on Tuesday. Both accused have been arrested and a murder case has been registered at Kengeri Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Who the Accused and Victim Are
The deceased has been identified as Jayamma, 70, a native of Hanninakere in Hassan district. The accused are her daughter Bhagyalakshmi, 49, a homemaker, and grandson Kushal, 26, who resided in Flat No. 107 on the first floor of Monisha Enclave Apartment, Subhash Nagar, Kengeri. Jayamma had reportedly been staying at the flat for several days before the incident.
What Happened on the Night of the Incident
According to the complaint filed by Dhananjaya, a resident of the same apartment complex, residents heard loud arguments and screams from the flat during the night preceding the incident, with Jayamma allegedly heard calling out for help. When Dhananjaya returned home from work on the night of 22 June, he found police personnel, residents, and relatives gathered outside the flat. Upon entering, he found Jayamma lying near the bathroom in the hall.
Residents informed him that Bhagyalakshmi and Kushal had allegedly assaulted Jayamma with a cricket bat and a wooden club between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on 22 June after she objected to their drinking.
A History of Disturbance and Prior Intervention
According to the complaint, both Bhagyalakshmi and Kushal had reportedly been consuming alcohol regularly for several months, creating disturbances in the apartment. Residents had previously raised objections, and Kushal was reportedly sent to a rehabilitation centre following intervention by family members and apartment residents. He had returned home a few weeks before the incident, and the alleged disturbances resumed. Frequent quarrels had been heard from the flat in the days Jayamma was staying there.
Bengaluru South-West Division police confirmed the case has been registered and that investigation is underway.
A Troubling Pattern Across Karnataka
This incident is not isolated. In May 2025, Kanakamma Nagappa Bokkasad, 82, of Kanakagiri town, was allegedly killed by her 34-year-old grandson, Chethan Kumar Bokkasad, who struck her on the head with a grinding stone after she refused to give him ₹100 for alcohol. According to investigators, Chethan was unemployed and had been harassing his parents; the grandmother had advised him to approach his parents for money, which allegedly enraged him. During the altercation, he reportedly questioned why she should continue to live before attacking her. The two cases, within weeks of each other, point to a disturbing pattern of domestic violence linked to alcohol dependency targeting elderly women within families.
Point of View
It is a pattern. What both cases share is the same combustible mix: unemployed or idle young men, unchecked alcohol dependency, and elderly women as the only family members willing to confront them. Kushal's prior stint in rehabilitation and return without structured follow-up is a systemic failure, not just a family tragedy. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions invoked here carry weight, but criminal prosecution addresses the crime after the fact. Karnataka needs to ask why its community-level alcohol intervention mechanisms are failing before the violence, not after.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Bengaluru Kengeri apartment murder case?
The victim was Jayamma, 70 , a native of Hanninakere in Hassan district. She was allegedly beaten to death by her daughter Bhagyalakshmi, 49, and grandson Kushal, 26, at their apartment in Subhash Nagar, Kengeri, Bengaluru on 22 June 2025.
Why did the accused allegedly attack Jayamma?
According to the complaint filed with police, Jayamma had reportedly objected to the drinking habits of her daughter and grandson, which allegedly triggered the assault. The alleged attack occurred between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on 22 June 2025.
Have the accused been arrested?
Yes. Both Bhagyalakshmi and Kushal have been arrested. A murder case has been registered against them at Kengeri Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigation is ongoing.
Was there any prior warning of violence in the apartment?
Yes. Residents had previously complained about the duo's alcohol-related disturbances. Kushal had been sent to a rehabilitation centre following family and resident intervention but had returned home a few weeks before the incident. Frequent quarrels had been heard from the flat in the days leading up to the murder.
Is this an isolated incident in Karnataka?
No. In May 2025, an 82-year-old woman in Kanakagiri town was allegedly killed by her 34-year-old grandson after she refused to give him ₹100 for alcohol. The two cases within weeks of each other point to a troubling pattern of alcohol-linked domestic violence against elderly women in the state.
