Doctor’s Betrayal: How a Bengaluru Surgeon Used Anaesthetic to Murder His Wife

What Happened

• Victim and accused: The victim is Dr. Kruthika M. Reddy, a dermatologist. She was married to Dr. Mahendra Reddy G. S., a surgeon who worked at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru.

• Timeline: The couple married on May 26, 2024. Less than a year later, in April 2025, Kruthika fell ill while staying at her parents’ home in Marathahalli due to health issues.

• Symptoms and medical treatment: Starting April 21, Kruthika complained of gastric trouble (indigestion, vomiting etc.). Her husband administered treatment via IV (intravenous injections) over a couple of days, claiming it was to address her gastrointestinal distress. On April 23, she complained about pain at the IV cannula site and even asked if it could be removed. Her husband reportedly told her to keep it, promising further treatment.

• Death and initial classification: On the morning of April 24, Kruthika was found unresponsive. She was taken to a hospital and declared dead on arrival. Initially, her death was treated as natural or under mysterious/unexplained circumstances, and a report of Unnatural Death Report (UDR) was filed. There was resistance from the husband and his family to conduct a post-mortem.

Evidence and Investigation

• Forensic and medical evidence: The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report — obtained about six months after her death — found traces of Propofol, a powerful anaesthetic restricted for use in operating rooms, in multiple organs of Kruthika. Also, medical equipment used in her treatment including IV cannula, injection tubes etc. were seized and analyzed.

• Motive (alleged): Several motives are being investigated:

  1. Undisclosed health issues: It is alleged that Kruthika had long‑standing gastric and metabolic disorders which were not disclosed before marriage. Her husband is said to have grown resentful over learning about these issues.

  2. Financial disputes: There was also pressure from Mahendra to set up a private hospital, with demands for funds from Kruthika’s family; this may have caused strain.

  3. Possible extramarital affair: Police sources suggest Mahendra might have had an affair, which could be linked with neglect or tensions in the marriage.

• Legal classification and arrest: After the FSL confirmed presence of Propofol and toxic levels indicating an overdose, the police reclassified the case from UDR (unnatural death) to a murder case under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Mahendra was arrested in Manipal (Udupi district) after a Look‑Out Circular was issued.

Disturbing Details

• Misuse of medical access: As a surgeon, Mahendra is alleged to have used his access to operating theatre (OT) and ICU drugs to procure Propofol. There is suspicion he exploited his medical role and knowledge to plan and conceal the act.

• Attempts at cover‑up: Reports say Mahendra and his family tried to avoid a post‑mortem, insisted the death was due to natural causes, and discouraged lodging a police complaint.

• Family’s role in uncovering the truth: Kruthika’s elder sister, Dr. Nikitha M. Reddy (a radiologist), insisted on investigation and post‑mortem. Her suspicion played a crucial role in pushing authorities to commission forensic tests.

Broader Implications

• Medical ethics: The case raises grave concerns about trust in doctor‑patient (and in this case, spouse‑patient) relationships. A medical professional allegedly using restricted, dangerous drugs to kill a loved one betrays professional trust.

• Forensics and justice delays: The case shows how forensic and legal processes (post‑mortem, FSL report etc.) are key, but often delayed. Kruthika’s death was in April, but only in October did arrest happen after evidence emerged.

• Transparency in medical backgrounds and disclosures in marriage: The dispute over undisclosed health issues points to the requirement of openness. But also, whether non‑disclosure of medical history justifies such an extreme act is a matter for law and morality.

What Questions Remain

• Exactly how the propofol was procured, stored, and administered at home — was there collusion from hospital staff or misuse of hospital supplies?

• Whether there were earlier warning signs of abuse, coercion, or mental unrest in the husband.

• Why the husband and in‑laws were so resistant to the post‑mortem.

• How long the undisclosed health issues had been known and to whom, and the extent to which that informed Mahendra’s behaviour.

• What legal precedents this case might set under the new BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) law.

Current Status

• Mahendra Reddy is in custody. The police continue to investigate all angles: motive, complicity, how exactly the murder was administered and concealed.

• The case is being prosecuted as murder under the newer legal statutes.

This case is particularly chilling because it involves betrayal from someone trusted, misuse of medical knowledge and resources, and a plan to disguise murder as natural death. Kruthika’s sister’s insistence on investigation also shows the power of persistence in seeking justice.