Mohammed Irfaz, a 22-year-old migrant worker from Bihar, was arrested on Thursday, 22 October 2026, for allegedly murdering his 25-year-old wife, Ruksana, and disposing of her body in a stormwater drain on Magadi Road, Bengaluru. According to police, the killing stemmed from repeated quarrels rooted in Irfaz's suspicions about his wife's fidelity. Ruksana's body was recovered from the drain on 13 October, three days after she was allegedly killed on 10 October.

Background: A Couple Who Came to Bengaluru Six Months Ago

Both Irfaz and Ruksana were originally from Bihar and had married approximately a year before the incident. The couple had reportedly fallen in love while selling balloons in Bihar. Ruksana had previously been married and had a child from that earlier relationship before separating from her first husband.

Around six months ago, the couple relocated to Bengaluru in search of livelihood. Irfaz secured employment at a garment factory, while Ruksana was also employed. However, the two frequently quarrelled, with disputes allegedly intensifying over time.

How the Alleged Murder Unfolded

According to police, Irfaz allegedly grew increasingly suspicious of Ruksana because she frequently spoke on her mobile phone, which he interpreted as evidence of an extramarital relationship. The situation came to a head on 10 October, when Irfaz allegedly picked up a stone and fatally assaulted her, also reportedly stuffing a scarf into her mouth.

After the killing, he allegedly broke the handle lock of an unidentified person's motorcycle and used the vehicle to transport the body. He reportedly placed Ruksana's body in a bag positioned between the motorcycle's handles and pushed the vehicle to the drain site on Magadi Road, where he dumped the body.

Investigation: Over 10 Teams Deployed

When the body was discovered on 13 October, police initially had no leads and were unable to establish the victim's identity. The Magadi Road police subsequently formed more than 10 teams and conducted extensive door-to-door inquiries, gathering information about missing persons across the area.

A breakthrough came when residents informed investigators that a man from Gopalapura had reported his wife missing. Police questioned Irfaz, who allegedly claimed Ruksana had returned to Bihar and was no longer using her phone. Finding the account suspicious, police took him into custody for further interrogation, during which he allegedly confessed to the murder.

Second Such Case in Bengaluru This Year

This is not an isolated incident. In a strikingly similar case, Bengaluru Police had arrested 32-year-old Sagar Chandra Rawat for the murder of his 28-year-old wife, Anusuya Behara, on 11 August. Both were from Odisha and lived in a rented accommodation near Sampigehalli / MS Nagar in northeast Bengaluru. Rawat allegedly assaulted and strangled Anusuya following a heated argument over financial matters and salary.

Rawat reportedly kept the body inside their home for three days, then wrapped it in a bedsheet, tied it with a rope, and dumped it in an overgrown vacant plot in Agrahara Layout, M.S. Nagar around midnight. On 2 September 2026, workers clearing the plot under a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) directive discovered the highly decomposed remains. Police eventually traced a clothing tag on the victim to a shopping complex in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which led to Anusuya's identification and Rawat's arrest.

The two cases, both involving migrant couples and domestic disputes turning fatal, have raised questions about support systems for inter-state migrants living in Bengaluru's dense urban clusters. Investigators say both cases were cracked through persistent community-level inquiry rather than any forensic breakthrough.