In a crime chillingly similar to the Shraddha Walkar case in Delhi (2022), the dismembered body of a 29-year-old woman was discovered inside a refrigerator at her Bengaluru home on Saturday. The victim, identified as H. Mahalakshmi Das, was brutally murdered, her body cut into over 30 pieces. The gruesome discovery was made by her mother and elder sister, who had been called to the residence by the building owner after noticing a foul smell emanating from the apartment.
Mahalakshmi, an employee at a mall, had been living alone in a one-bedroom apartment on Pipeline Road, Vyalikaval. Her family, originally from Nepal but settled in Nelamangala for two decades, had not been in contact with her for a suspiciously long time. She had separated from her husband, who lives with their child.
The incident came to light around 3:30 p.m. when the building owner, Jayaram, who resides on the ground floor, received complaints from neighbors about the odor. After informing Mahalakshmi’s family, they arrived to find the door bolted from the outside. Upon forcing it open, they were overwhelmed by the sight of insects crawling out of the refrigerator, which contained her decomposing remains. Both women reportedly fainted upon seeing the horrific scene.
Police were alerted immediately. Officers suspect the murder occurred after September 2, the day Mahalakshmi’s phone was switched off. They are investigating whether more than one person was involved in the killing, and are reviewing her call records. “It’s surprising that none of her family members contacted her earlier,” said a police officer. Authorities are questioning the family as part of their inquiry.
The pungent stench at the crime scene was so overpowering that even police officers had to wear masks. Some neighbors had initially assumed it was the smell of a dead animal. The victim’s neighbors described her as quiet and reserved, with minimal interaction. According to some, a man was often seen picking her up for work in the morning and dropping her back at night.
Investigators believe the killer may have been someone known to the victim, ruling out robbery as a motive since no valuables were disturbed. The investigation is ongoing.