The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examined viscera samples from Kruthika’s body. The results showed traces of Propofol, a powerful sedative commonly used for anesthesia.
What first appeared as a natural death in Bengaluru has now turned into a shocking murder case. Six months after the death of Kruthika M Reddy, police have named her husband, Dr. Mahendra Reddy, as the main accused. Investigators say Mahendra used his medical knowledge to slowly poison his wife to death, just a year after their marriage.
Police said Mahendra took advantage of Kruthika’s existing health problems. She suffered from long-term gastric and metabolic disorders. Using this as an excuse, Mahendra allegedly began giving her intravenous (IV) medication in April this year.
Being a doctor, he had access to his hospital’s operating theatre and ICU. He used this privilege to get anesthetic drugs that he reportedly administered to his wife in doses much higher than normal. Investigators believe the excess dose caused respiratory depression, leading to her death.
When Kruthika was found dead in April, police initially could not determine the cause of death. They filed an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) and collected several items from the scene — including a cannula set, injection tubes, and other medical supplies.
At the time, her death was not treated as suspicious. However, later forensic results raised new doubts about what really happened that night.
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examined viscera samples from Kruthika’s body. The results showed traces of Propofol, a powerful sedative commonly used for anesthesia.
After these findings, Kruthika’s father, Muni Reddy, filed a police complaint against his son-in-law. He accused Mahendra of murdering his daughter by giving her sedatives through IV injections.
According to the investigation, Mahendra continued giving IV doses to Kruthika even when she started feeling unwell. On April 23, two days after the first dose, she complained of pain at the IV site. Mahendra allegedly told her on WhatsApp not to remove it.
Later that night, around 9:30 pm, he entered her room and injected her again. The next morning, Kruthika was found unresponsive. Despite being a doctor, Mahendra did not perform CPR. She was declared dead soon after.
Police sources say Mahendra was frustrated with Kruthika’s medical conditions, which her family had allegedly hidden before the marriage.
However, her father claims there was another reason. He said Mahendra made big monetary demands, including funds to build a private hospital. He also alleged that Mahendra was involved with another woman and was using Kruthika’s illness as an excuse to give her IV drugs.
