The shocking resemblance between the murders of Shraddha Walkar in Delhi and Mahalakshmi in Bengaluru has raised concerns among the police, suspecting that the main accused, Mukti Ranjan Roy, might have been influenced by videos on social media about the Walkar case, News18 reported.
In the Shraddha Walkar case, Aaftab Amin Poonawala, her live-in partner, allegedly strangled her on May 18, 2022. According to a 6,629-page chargesheet filed by Delhi Police, Poonawala dismembered her body, stored it in a fridge, and disposed of the pieces over several days across the city to avoid being caught. These remains were eventually discovered later.
Similarly, the body of Mahalakshmi, aged 29, was found chopped into 59 pieces and kept in a refrigerator for 18 days, mirroring the gruesome details of Walkar’s murder.
Accused Found Dead in Odisha
Muktiranjan Pratap Roy, aged 31, the prime suspect in the Mahalakshmi case, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Bhadrak district of Odisha. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shekhar H Tekkannavar confirmed that Roy was found hanging from a tree on Wednesday morning. A suicide note recovered from the scene detailed his confession to Mahalakshmi’s murder, according to Odisha police.
The Relationship Between Mahalakshmi and the Accused
The Bengaluru police revealed that Mahalakshmi and Mukti Ranjan worked at a garment shop where their friendship eventually developed into a relationship. However, tensions arose when Mahalakshmi allegedly pressured him to marry her. The couple often argued, and during one such heated argument, the short-tempered Mukti Ranjan is believed to have killed her.
According to initial investigations, the accused spent the entire night with Mahalakshmi’s body, unsure of how to dispose of it.
Inspired by Shraddha Walkar Case?
Reports from News18 suggest that Mukti Ranjan may have been influenced by the Shraddha Walkar case, which led him to dismember Mahalakshmi’s body using a sharp cleaver. After committing the crime, he stored her body parts in a fridge and fled the scene. Investigations revealed that the murder occurred between September 3 and 4.
A Troubled Relationship
Mahalakshmi’s body was found on September 21, nearly two weeks after her death. According to police, Mukti Ranjan and Mahalakshmi had been in a turbulent relationship for six months, frequently engaging in physical altercations. Complaints about their disputes were lodged at the Malleshwaram police station, with authorities attempting to mediate between them.
Mahalakshmi, previously married to a man named Hemanth, had a young daughter from her first marriage. She had separated from her husband in 2023 due to suspicions of an affair with another man. Mukti Ranjan, aware of her past, also suspected her of infidelity, which fueled further conflicts between the two.
Mahalakshmi’s Aggressive Personality
Police noted that Mahalakshmi had a “hot-tempered” nature, with previous complaints of physical assaults filed by both her estranged husband and Mukti Ranjan. In one instance, Hemanth reported that she had bitten him during an argument, demanding money.
On the night of the murder, another argument broke out, and Mukti Ranjan, enraged, assaulted Mahalakshmi, leading to her death. He reportedly spent the night contemplating how to deal with her body, during which he watched videos on body disposal methods.
The Purchase of a Cleaver Knife
CCTV footage obtained by police shows Mukti Ranjan visiting a shop in Malleshwaram on the morning of September 4, where he purchased a cleaver knife. The police later recovered the knife’s cover after he discarded it. Following the murder, Mukti Ranjan turned off his phone and went into hiding.
His younger brother, Smriti Ranjan, attempted to contact him but found his phone switched off. Days later, when the phone was back on, Mukti Ranjan confessed to his brother about the murder, advising him to leave the area to avoid police scrutiny.
The Investigation and Manhunt
Bengaluru police used technical data and CCTV footage to track Mukti Ranjan’s movements. His phone was traced to West Bengal before being switched off again. Further analysis revealed his location in Odisha, prompting police to send teams to apprehend him.
“We gathered vital information through technical analysis and CCTV footage. Based on Mukti Ranjan’s brother’s statements, we learned that Mukti Ranjan had admitted to the murder. The investigation is ongoing, with more updates expected from our teams in Odisha,” said DCP Shekhar HT.
Mukti Ranjan’s Suicide
On September 25, Mukti Ranjan Roy was found hanging from a tree near his hometown in Bhadrak, Odisha. Before his death, he had borrowed a two-wheeler from a friend in Balasore, promising to return it later that day. His death marks a tragic end to a case that mirrors the brutal crime in Delhi, raising questions about the influence of violent media on individuals.