A 25-year-old software engineer accused of killing three members of her family in Bengaluru told investigators that years of restrictions on her personal life and opposition to her relationship with her live-in partner drove her to commit the murders, according to police, who arrested her within 24 hours of the attack and are searching for her alleged accomplice.
The woman was detained near Puducherry railway station on Tuesday, while her accomplice Kenneth is still absconding. Police allege that the two carried out the killings inside the family’s flat at Say Green Homes in Dominic Layout, Sigihalli, on Monday night before fleeing.
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The relationship is at the center of the conflict
Investigators say the case revolves around a long-standing dispute between the defendant and her family over her relationship with Kenneth. According to KR Puram police inspector N Sathish, the woman’s mother strongly opposed the relationship and often scolded her over the large bank loans she had taken.
“Shwetha has been arrested from Puducherry and is currently being interrogated. Preliminary investigation indicates that there were frequent disputes between the accused and her parents regarding her personal life and relationship. We are collecting all the evidence and verifying every aspect before arriving at final conclusions. The motive behind the murder is that mother Muthulakshmi has always strongly opposed her relationship with her boyfriend Kenneth. She also abused Shwetha to avail huge amount of loans from various banks. Search for co-accused Kenneth is underway and has been completed,” Inspector Satish said. Deploy special teams.
The police said that the accused and Kenneth are engineering graduates who work in private companies and had been living together in a rented apartment for the past two months. Family members objected to this arrangement, which led to frequent disagreements.
Loans under the scanner
Investigators are also examining whether financial pressures played a role. According to the police, the accused had accumulated liabilities, including loans amounting to approx $30 lakh, and officers are assessing whether those financial liabilities, coupled with family strife, may have contributed to the killings.
Diary entries are examined
During a search of the apartment, police found a personal diary containing entries including “I am sad,” “I am lonely,” “I feel loved,” “I am depressed,” and “I am superior.” Detectives believed the diaries could provide insight into the accused’s mental state and sent them for further examination.
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How did the killings happen?
According to investigators, the mother was first attacked inside the apartment. The younger daughter was then stabbed to death after trying to intervene. Although he was seriously injured, the father managed to leave the apartment and seek help from neighbors before he later died in hospital.
Police said they collected digital records, documents and witness statements while reconstructing the sequence of events and determining the role of each accused.
“Several pieces of evidence have been collected from the scene, including digital records, documents and witness statements. We are reconstructing the sequence of events and identifying the exact role played by each accused,” Inspector Satish said.
The hunt for Kenneth continues
Police believe that the accused fled immediately after the murder before becoming separated during his escape. While the woman is now in custody, special teams continue to search for Kenneth.
