Bengaluru Police have arrested Dr. Mahendra Reddy, a general surgeon at Victoria Hospital, for the murder of his wife, Dr. Kruthika M. Reddy, a 28-year-old dermatologist. The arrest took place on Wednesday, October 15, after a six-month-long investigation revealed that Mahendra had allegedly administered a lethal dose of the anesthetic drug Propofol to his wife — a substance typically used only in hospital operation theatres.
Marriage and Suspicious Death
Mahendra and Kruthika, both contract doctors at Victoria Hospital, had married on May 26, 2024, and were living in Gunjur, Bengaluru. However, within months of marriage, Mahendra allegedly began mentally and financially harassing Kruthika, demanding money from her family to fund his plan to build a hospital.
Police investigation revealed that on April 21, Mahendra administered an IV injection to his wife at their home, claiming it was for stomach pain. The next day, he took her to her parent’s house in Marathahalli, saying she needed rest.
On the night of April 23, he visited her again and administered another injection. The following morning, on April 24, Kruthika was found unconscious. Despite being a doctor himself, Mahendra did not attempt CPR and instead took her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Initially, the police registered the case as an unnatural death, as there were no visible signs of foul play. However, Kruthika’s elder sister, Dr. Nikita M. Reddy, a radiologist, raised suspicions and requested a detailed forensic investigation.
What the Investigation Revealed
According to preliminary investigations, Mahendra allegedly killed Kruthika after discovering that she had a gastric condition that had been concealed before their marriage.
Police also found that Mahendra misused his professional access at the hospital to obtain restricted medicine Propofol - the drug used in the alleged murder.
Forensic Evidence and Arrest
Nearly six months later, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed the presence of Propofol in several of Kruthika’s organs, proving that her death was caused by the anesthetic.
Following this confirmation, Marathahalli Police reclassified the case as murder under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and tracked Mahendra to Manipal in Udupi. A lookout circular had already been issued against him prior to his arrest.
Family’s Plea for Justice
Kruthika’s father, Muni Reddy, filed a formal complaint on October 14, 2025, leading to Mahendra’s arrest the next day. In his statement, he said:
“Kruthika trusted her husband completely — both as a partner and as a doctor. But he used the very medical knowledge meant to save lives to take her life. Justice for Kruthika is justice for every woman who believes in love, trust, and honesty.”
Police are now investigating how Mahendra planned and executed the crime using his medical expertise and access to hospital supplies, as well as whether anyone else assisted him in procuring the restricted drugs.
