A 34-year-old man was arrested in Bengaluru’s Bommanahalli area for allegedly murdering his wife following a dispute over her going shopping without informing him, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, Harish BK, is reported to have suffocated his 29-year-old wife, Padmaja Harish, by trampling her neck during a heated argument on Sunday evening, shortly after she returned home from the outing.
According to police officials, the couple were engineering graduates from Kolar and had been living in Bengaluru for the past five years. While Padmaja worked with a private firm, Harish had quit his job a few months ago and was unemployed.
“Both Padmaja and Harish were engineering graduates working in private companies in the city for five years. However, Harish had quit his job a few months ago and had been staying at home since then. The couple often quarreled over petty issues, and Harish had reportedly become increasingly suspicious and aggressive,”
— Bommanahalli police inspector AD Preetham
Crime Discovery and Arrest
The murder came to light on Monday morning when concerned neighbours noticed something unusual and alerted the police. Officers arrived at the residence and immediately took Harish into custody.
He was produced before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Tuesday and has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Authorities are currently awaiting the autopsy report.
An FIR has been registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Early investigation suggests that Harish’s growing insecurity, unemployment, and history of domestic disputes were contributing factors in the crime.