Bengaluru fridge horror: Police identifies woman's colleague as prime suspect in murder

In the horrific murder case of Mahalakshmi, the Bengaluru city police have identified one of her former colleagues - Mukti - as the prime suspect.

The 29-year-old woman was brutally killed and her body was found chopped into more than 50 pieces inside a fridge in an apartment in the Vyalikaval localityof Bengaluru on September 21, in a case which had stark similarity to Shraddha Walker's killing.

As per the police, Mukti had opposed the relationship of the woman with another man, according to a report published by News18.

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As per the police report, Mukti's mobile phoneis switched off and efforts are being made to find him near the Odisha-West Bengal border.

Also Read:Bengaluru murder: Mahalakshmi's husband suspects lover's role in murder after her body found in fridge

Earlier, Mahalakshmi's estranged husband Hemanth Das had accused a man named Ashraf of being in an extramarital relationship with Mahalakshmi.

Karnataka's home minister says police have located suspect

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday (September 25) said that the police have been able to locate the suspect and teams are sent to nab him.

"We have taken the case very seriously, as the murder had shaken the entire Bengaluru. Already the police have identified that the person is in Odisha and have gathered information that he is behind the crime. Police have sent three to four teams there. He is said to be on the run changing places," Parameshwara said.

"After securing him, we will get more information....two-three persons were taken into custody, but based on the evidence and information available, there is a suspicion about the involvement of the person (in Odisha). So efforts are on to secure him," he added.

Meanwhile, the post-mortem report of Mahalakshmi had confirmed that the accused had chopped her body into 59 pieces.

Also Read:India: Woman's body, chopped into 30 pieces, found in fridge while tracing foul smell

The officials had sent samples of her intestine for a toxicology study to understand if she was poisoned.

The fingerprints found on the refrigerator were also being examined by the forensics.

Mahalakshmi’s mother had previouslysaid that shelast sawher daughter on the day of the Raksha Bandhan festival.

“The owner of the building informed me that there was a foul smell coming from the house. When I came and opened the door I saw the body of Mahalakshmi cut into pieces. I saw her for the last time at the Rakshabandhan festival. Since then her phone has been switched off,” said Mahalakshmi’s mother Meena Rana, while speaking to the reporters.

(With inputs from agencies)