Man surrenders after killing wife, mom-in-law

NT Correspondent

The owner of a bakery surrendered before the police after allegedly killing his wife and motherin-law at their house in Govindarajanagar near Vijayanagar on Tuesday morning.

After sending his two children to school, the accused had picked a fight with his wife over her alleged illicit relationship. When the argument escalated, he took a coconut cutter knife and hacked her to death. He also killed his motherin-law using the same weapon when she started scolding him. After realising that both the women were dead, he reportedly went to a police station with the knife and surrendered.

The deceased have been identified as Sunitha, 38, and her mother Sarojama, 65. Sunitha is a resident of Moodalapalya, while Sarojamma lives in N.R. Colony. The accused has been identified as Ravi Kumar, 48. Kumar, a native of Thirthahalli in Shivamogga, married Sunitha 18 years ago and they have two children. Sunitha is a housewife, while Kumar used to run a bakery, but was forced to close it due to losses incurred during Covid lockdowns.

“Sarojamma had come to her daughter’s house on Tuesday morning. Kumar returned home after dropping his children to school. Around 10.30 am, Kumar had a fight with his wife. In a fit of rage, Kumar took the knife and killed his wife. The aged woman who came to rescue her daughter was also murdered,” said a police office.

On hearing the cries, neighbours rushed to Kumar’s house and found both the women lying in a pool of blood. They immediately informed the jurisdictional Govindarajanagar police station. Kumar is said to have gone to the police station on his scooter and surrendered.

He reportedly told the police that he suspected his wife’s fidelity. The police visited the scene of the crime for spot mazhar and have taken possession of the murder weapon.

Kumar had repeatedly warned his wife to stop her relationship with her paramour. He had even changed houses, but Sunitha is alleged to have continued with her relationship.