Bengaluru woman killed by jilted ex after dinner; accused held within hours
Synopsis
In the second such case in Bengaluru within a fortnight, a young woman was allegedly killed by a former partner who could not accept her decision to end their relationship. The accused, arrested within hours, had a prior criminal record — the very reason Anjali's family had opposed the relationship in the first place.
Key Takeaways
Anjali , a resident of K.P.
Agrahara, Bengaluru , was allegedly murdered by her former partner Rajiv on Sunday, 29 June .
Rajiv allegedly slit her throat with a knife on Pipeline Road, Mahalakshmi Layout , after a dinner meeting turned into an argument.
Anjali had ended the relationship after her family rejected Rajiv's marriage proposal, citing his criminal antecedents .
The accused was arrested by Mahalakshmi Layout police within hours of the incident; a murder case has been registered.
The killing follows a similar case on 14 June in which Ati Hangma Subba , 22, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend Purba Lepcha in Doddakannahalli , Bengaluru.
A young woman identified as Anjali was allegedly murdered by her former partner, Rajiv, after he lured her to a dinner meeting in Bengaluru's Mahalakshmi Layout area on Sunday evening, 29 June. Rajiv allegedly slit Anjali's throat with a knife before fleeing, and was arrested by the Mahalakshmi Layout police within hours of the crime, according to police.
How the incident unfolded
Rajiv and Anjali, both residents of K.P. Agrahara in Bengaluru, had been in a relationship for roughly two years after meeting at their shared workplace. Their families were reportedly aware of the relationship. However, Anjali's family opposed their marriage upon learning of Rajiv's criminal antecedents and rejected his proposal. Anjali subsequently ended the relationship, respecting her family's decision.
Police said Rajiv was unable to accept the breakup and allegedly continued to pressure Anjali to reconsider. On Sunday evening, he reportedly invited her for dinner. After the meal, he led her to a stretch along Pipeline Road in Mahalakshmi Layout, where the two allegedly got into an argument over the ended relationship. During the altercation, Rajiv allegedly drew a knife and slit Anjali's throat before fleeing the scene.
Victim rushed to hospital, succumbs to injuries
Passersby who witnessed the attack rushed the critically injured woman to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts by medical staff, Anjali succumbed to her injuries. Police have registered a case of murder and say preliminary investigations point to Rajiv having committed the act after failing to come to terms with Anjali's refusal to resume the relationship or agree to marriage.
Arrest and investigation
Acting swiftly, the Mahalakshmi Layout police tracked down and arrested Rajiv within a short time of the murder. A formal murder case has been registered and investigations are ongoing. Police have not yet disclosed the specific charges beyond the murder case.
A disturbing pattern in Bengaluru
This incident follows a similar case on 14 June, when a 22-year-old woman from Sikkim, identified as Ati Hangma Subba, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Purba Lepcha, a native of Darjeeling, following a dispute in Doddakannahalli, Bengaluru. In that case, Lepcha allegedly attacked Subba with a kitchen knife over suspicions of infidelity, resulting in her death. The two cases, occurring within a fortnight, have raised concerns about intimate partner violence in the city. Both incidents are now under active police investigation.
Point of View
But swift arrests do not address the structural failure that allows men with criminal records and a documented refusal to accept rejection to remain a threat. Karnataka's courts and lawmakers should be asking why these cases keep happening, not just whether the accused have been caught.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Bengaluru Mahalakshmi Layout murder case?
A young woman named Anjali was allegedly murdered by her former partner Rajiv on Sunday, 29 June, in Bengaluru's Mahalakshmi Layout area. Rajiv allegedly slit her throat with a knife after inviting her for dinner, following an argument over their ended relationship. He was arrested by police within hours of the crime.
Why did Anjali end her relationship with Rajiv?
Anjali ended the relationship at her family's insistence after they discovered Rajiv had a criminal record and rejected his marriage proposal. According to police, Rajiv was unable to accept the breakup and allegedly continued to pressure her to marry him.
Has the accused been arrested?
Yes. Mahalakshmi Layout police tracked down and arrested Rajiv within a short time of the murder on Sunday evening. A formal case of murder has been registered and investigations are ongoing.
Is this the first such case in Bengaluru recently?
No. On 14 June, a 22-year-old woman from Sikkim, Ati Hangma Subba, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend Purba Lepcha in Doddakannahalli, Bengaluru, in a similar incident involving a domestic dispute. The two cases have occurred within a fortnight of each other.
Who were the victims and accused in the 14 June Bengaluru case?
The victim was Ati Hangma Subba, 22, a native of Sikkim working as a receptionist at a salon. The accused, Purba Lepcha, a native of Darjeeling, was employed as a waiter. Police said Lepcha allegedly attacked Subba with a kitchen knife after suspecting her of involvement with another person.
