In a chilling twist to the murder of dermatologist Dr Kruthika Reddy, police investigations have revealed that her husband and main accused, Dr Mahendra Reddy GS, sent disturbing messages to several women soon after killing her. One of those messages, sent through a digital payment app, read: “I killed my wife for you.”

The revelation has deepened the shock surrounding the case that has gripped Karnataka’s medical community. Mahendra, who allegedly killed his wife by administering anaesthesia on April 24, 2025, was arrested nearly six months later — on October 14 — from Manipal in Udupi district.

Confession through a payment app

According to the Whitefield division police, Mahendra sent the message to at least four to five women, including a medical professional who had earlier rejected his marriage proposal. Since the woman had blocked him on all messaging platforms, Mahendra reportedly used the note feature of a PhonePe digital payment transfer to reach her.

Police said the woman had no role in the crime. “The message was sent through a UPI app. We have retrieved the data and confirmed the communication,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) K Parashurama. The police have seized Mahendra’s mobile phone and laptop and sent them for forensic analysis to confirm the timeline and intent behind the messages.

A trail of deceit and obsession

Investigators revealed that Mahendra had been in touch with multiple women, including former acquaintances and those who had previously rejected him. In what appears to be a disturbing attempt to rekindle old relationships, the 36-year-old anesthesiologist reached out to women he had courted years earlier, claiming that he had “killed his wife for them”.

The woman who received the confession told police that she had blocked Mahendra even before his marriage to Kruthika. After learning that he was married, she completely distanced herself. She said she initially dismissed his message as an attempt to seek attention and did not believe it was a real confession until his arrest was reported in the media.

Fake death and renewed proposals

Further investigation uncovered that Mahendra had earlier faked his own death to another woman from Mumbai. He had proposed marriage to her in 2023 and met her several times before vanishing. To end contact, he reportedly made his father inform her that he had died in an accident.

However, months later, Mahendra “returned from the dead”, contacting her again in September 2025 to say that he had lied. According to police sources, he told the woman that his astrological chart predicted the death of his first wife and that his marriage to Kruthika was “destined to end”. Claiming that his “true love was genuine”, he expressed a desire to marry her now that his wife was “no more”.

The murder of Kruthika Reddy

The murder itself, according to investigators, was coldly premeditated. On April 24, Mahendra allegedly injected his 29-year-old wife Kruthika with a high dose of anaesthetic drugs at their apartment in Bengaluru. He then attempted to destroy evidence before fleeing the city.

Kruthika’s family grew suspicious after repeated failed attempts to contact her and filed a missing complaint. The post-mortem later confirmed death due to drug overdose consistent with anaesthetic poisoning.

Mahendra was finally tracked down and arrested on October 14 in Manipal, where he was reportedly working under a false identity. Police said he had been on the run for nearly six months.

Police investigation continues

Police are now scrutinising Mahendra’s communications with several women across different cities. “We have identified multiple contacts and are analysing whether any of them were aware of his intentions. At this stage, there is no evidence suggesting involvement of any other person,” a senior police officer said.

Officials have also requested a psychological evaluation of Mahendra to understand his motives and behaviour pattern. Investigators describe him as “manipulative, emotionally unstable, and obsessed with control.”

Conclusion

As forensic analysis progresses, police believe the recovered messages and digital evidence will help establish Mahendra’s state of mind and intent. The case continues to expose disturbing layers of deceit and obsession in a relationship that ended in tragedy.