Bengaluru — In a shocking case that has sent ripples through Karnataka’s medical community, a 32-year-old surgeon has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, also a doctor, by administering a fatal dose of anesthesia — less than a year after their marriage.
Dr. Mahendra Reddy, a general surgeon at Victoria Hospital, was arrested on October 14 after forensic reports confirmed that his 28-year-old wife, dermatologist Dr. Kruthika Reddy, had died from anesthetic substances found in her body.
The couple married on May 26, 2024. According to investigators, Mahendra grew resentful after learning that Kruthika suffered from certain health conditions, which he claimed were not disclosed before their wedding.
Murder Disguised as Treatment
Police said Mahendra used his professional knowledge and access to medical drugs to plan the killing. On April 21, he reportedly administered an IV injection to Kruthika at home under the guise of treating gastric pain. The next day, he took her to her parents’ house in Marathahalli, saying she needed rest.
When Kruthika complained of pain at the IV site, Mahendra allegedly advised her not to remove it — even over WhatsApp messages — and returned later that night to inject her again.
The following morning, April 24, Kruthika was found unresponsive. Despite being a trained surgeon, Mahendra made no attempt to revive her. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Forensic Report Unmasks the Crime
Initially classified as a natural death, suspicions grew after the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report detected anesthetic substances in her system. Police then reclassified the case from an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) to murder, based on a complaint from Kruthika’s father, K. Muni Reddy.
“Our daughter thought her marriage was built on trust and love. That trust was cruelly broken,” he said.
A Calculated Betrayal
Police believe Mahendra meticulously used his expertise to execute the crime. “He planned this with clinical precision,” said DCP M. Parashuram (Whitefield). “He exploited his wife’s medical vulnerabilities under the pretense of care.”
Mahendra has been charged under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Kruthika, a dermatologist with degrees from Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Navodaya Medical College, and NBEMS, was preparing to open her own clinic, Skin & Scalpel, on May 4 — just days after her death.
“She was bright, dedicated, and full of life. No one imagined her husband would betray her in this way,” said a colleague from Victoria Hospital.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh commended the investigation team for “uncovering a murder disguised as a medical mishap.”
