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Bengaluru surgeon arrested six months after allegedly injecting a sedative to kill his dermatologist wife, in a chilling case that has shocked the medical community
Shocking Betrayal: Bengaluru Surgeon Arrested 6 Months After Wife’s Death by Sedative Injection
Bengaluru, 15 October 2025 — In a case that has stirred shock in medical and public circles alike, the Bengaluru City Police on Wednesday arrested a 31‑year‑old surgeon, Dr. Mahendra Reddy G S, for allegedly murdering his wife, Dr. Kruthika M Reddy, a dermatologist, by administering a high dose of an anaesthetic sedative. The crime reportedly took place in April 2025, but was uncovered only after months of investigation aided by forensic evidence and persistent suspicion from Kruthika’s family.
The arrest has prompted intense public discourse — about trust in the medical profession, the ability to misuse professional access, the role of forensic science, and the pain of families seeking truth.
The Incident: What Exactly Happened in April?
Discovery of Death
On 24 April 2025, Kruthika was found unresponsive in her room at her father’s residence in Marathahalli, Bengaluru. She had been staying with her parents because of health issues. She was rushed to Cauvery Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.
Her husband, Dr. Mahendra — who was also a medical practitioner at Victoria Hospital — had been treating her at home. The day before her death, Kruthika had complained of gastritis and had requested to remove intravenous (IV) drips; Mahendra reportedly refused and continued with IV administration.
Initially, the death appeared natural or medical, and the family — along with Dr. Mahendra — had suggested no postmortem was necessary. However, Kruthika’s elder sister, Dr. Nikitha Reddy, a radiologist, insisted on a deeper probe, which eventually triggered a medico-legal case and forensic submission.
The Autopsy & Forensic Breakthrough
Marathahalli police classified the case as an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) while waiting for the forensic report. In the meantime, viscera and medical equipment (cannulas, injection tubes) were seized from Kruthika’s home and submitted to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
Six months later, the FSL report confirmed the presence of Propofol, a potent anaesthetic agent typically restricted to operation theatres, in Kruthika’s vessel and organ tissues. Based on that toxicological evidence, the authorities reclassified the case from unnatural death to murder under Section 103 of the newly adopted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Acting on the complaint filed by Kruthika’s father, Muni Reddy K, police arrested Dr. Mahendra from Manipal, Udupi district, where he had apparently relocated in the interim. A Look‑Out Circular (LOC) had already been issued against him.
He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in nine days’ police custody.
The Accused & the Victim: Background & Marriage
Dr. Mahendra Reddy
- Age: 31
- Profession: Surgeon / general physician at Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru
- Marriage: Tied knot with Kruthika on 26 May 2024
- Residence: The couple lived in Ayyappa Layout, within Marathahalli police limits.
- Family & Allegations: Reports indicate Dr. Mahendra might have had prior brushes with the law — his twin brother, Nagendra Reddy GS, had criminal cases dating from 2018 in Bengaluru. Mahendra and another brother, Raghava Reddy, were also named in a 2023 case involving threats against a complainant family. These matters were allegedly hidden from Kruthika and her family at the time of marriage.
Dr. Kruthika M Reddy
- Age: 28 or 29 (sources vary)
- Profession: Dermatologist
- Education: MBBS (Vydehi Institute), MD Dermatology (Navodaya Medical College, Raichur), DNB Dermatology (NBEMS)
- Clinic Plans: She was reportedly preparing to launch her own dermatology clinic “Skin & Scalpel” in Marathahalli in early May 2025.
- Family: Her father, Muni Reddy K, lodged the formal complaint which eventually triggered the murder case. Her sister, Dr. Nikitha Reddy, was central to pushing the investigation forward.
From all reports, the couple’s marriage lasted less than a year before this tragedy unfolded.
Investigative & Legal Developments
Reclassification & Arrest
Once the FSL report was received confirming propofol traces, Bengaluru police reclassified the case to murder and arrested Dr. Mahendra under appropriate sections.
Police officials have indicated that the accused leveraged his medical access (OT, ICU, drug stocks) to procure the anaesthetic and execute the crime, attempting a cover-up to make Kruthika’s death appear natural or medically induced.
The Marathahalli police also noted the scene-of-crime evidence, including seized IV cannulas, injection tubing, and medical tools, which were sent for forensic analysis.
Motive Theories
Investigations are ongoing, and several potential motives have surfaced in media and police briefings:
- Concealed Health Condition:
Dr. Mahendra is said to have been upset that Kruthika had undisclosed health issues prior to marriage, which may have created trust issues or disputes. - Financial / Hospital Ambitions:
Sources allege that after Kruthika’s death, Mahendra asked her family for funds to help him set up a hospital — demands which had reportedly caused friction. - Marital Discord & Allegations:
Some in Kruthika’s family allege that Mahendra may have had an extramarital affair, or that conflicts arose in the marriage soon after.
Authorities stress that these are preliminary leads — the motive is yet to be conclusively established in court.
Legal Charges & Next Steps
Mahendra has been charged under murder and destruction of evidence sections (exact sections under BNS 2023 to be determined).
He is under police custody for further interrogation, while Kruthika’s family seeks maximum punishment.
The case will now proceed through judicial hearings, presentation of forensic evidence, witness testimonies (family, hospital staff, drug procurement trail), and cross‑examination of the accused.
Implications & Reactions
Public Shock & Ethical Outcry
The case has triggered widespread shock — in part because the accused is a doctor, a trusted professional entrusted with life and health. The narrative of misuse of medical expertise to commit murder has left many unsettled.
Medical associations and ethical watchdogs have expressed concerns about drug access controls, hospital inventory discipline, and the need for oversight on how controlled drugs (like Propofol) are tracked and handled.
Role of Forensic Science & Persistence
A central pillar in solving this case was the forensic toxicology report confirming propofol. The insistence of Kruthika’s sister on pushing for a deeper investigation (despite family resistance) proved decisive. The case reaffirms that in many suspicious deaths, forensic science can overturn misdirection.
Medical Profession Under Lens
This incident amplifies concerns about potential abuse of privilege within medical settings: how easy is it for clinicians to obtain, administer, or cover up drug misuse? Hospitals may see calls to review audit trails of controlled medications, stricter supervision, and safeguards to prevent internal abuses.
Feminist & Social Discourse
In digital spaces and in media commentary, the case has also raised feminist and social-justice issues: the vulnerability of professional women, possible coercion within marriages, and the difficulty families may face in challenging established narratives when the perpetrator is a respected figure.
Timeline Snapshot
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 26 May 2024 | Mahendra & Kruthika marry. |
| ~21–23 April 2025 | Kruthika complains of gastritis; Mahendra administers IV drugs. |
| 24 April 2025 | Kruthika found unresponsive; declared dead at hospital. |
| Post‑death | Family and doctors initially suggest natural causes, resist postmortem. |
| Next few months | Sister Nikitha presses for probe; medico-legal and forensic processes activated. |
| ~October 2025 | FSL report confirms propofol, case reclassified, Mahendra arrested from Manipal. |
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