A 24-year-old man from Bihar has been arrested by the Kumbalagodu Police in Bengaluru for allegedly strangling his wife to death following repeated domestic disputes over her mobile phone use, social media reel-making, and her insistence that he return with her to Bihar. The accused, identified as Dhiraj Kumar, a resident of East Champaran district in Bihar, had fled to his home state after the killing but was traced and apprehended by a special police team.

How the Crime Came to Light

The case surfaced on 29 July when the owner of a four-storey building in Gerupalya, under the Kumbalagodu police station limits on the outskirts of Bengaluru, received information from one of the victim's acquaintances about a foul smell emanating from the couple's rented room on the fourth floor. Upon entering, the owner discovered the decomposed body of Reema Kumari wrapped in a bed sheet near the toilet and immediately alerted the authorities.

What the Accused Confessed

According to police, Dhiraj Kumar allegedly confessed during interrogation that after their marriage — roughly 10 months ago — Reema gradually became disengaged. He claimed she spent most of her time on her mobile phone making social media reels, resisted physical intimacy, cooked only for herself, and did not serve him food at night. She also repeatedly pressured him to leave Bengaluru and return to Bihar, which became a recurring flashpoint.

On the day of the killing, a heated altercation reportedly broke out over these grievances. According to the accused's statement, Reema allegedly struck him with a stick during the fight. Enraged, Dhiraj allegedly used her dupatta (veil) to strangle her. He then allegedly wrapped her face in plastic, covered the body with a bed sheet, left it inside the locked room, and fled to Bihar.

Background: The Couple's Story

The couple had reportedly fallen in love and married approximately 10 months before the incident, relocating to Bengaluru without informing Reema's family. They were living in a rented room in Gerupalya, where Dhiraj was employed. The marriage, conducted without the knowledge of the bride's family, had been under strain almost from the outset, according to investigators.

The Investigation and Arrest

The Kumbalagodu Police registered a case of murder and destruction of evidence following the discovery of the body. A special investigation team, operating under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Anita B. Haddannavar and the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Satyavathi K., traced the accused to Bihar. The team was led by Inspector Kumar of Kumbalagodu Police Station, along with Police Sub-Inspectors Dharmaraj, Rohith V. Talawar, Sridhar, and other personnel.

Investigators have also collected scientific evidence and CCTV footage as part of the probe. Further investigation is underway, police confirmed.