Bengaluru: A 39-year-old woman and her live-in partner have been booked for the alleged murder of her five-year-old daughter after a postmortem report reportedly contradicted the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. The case was registered by Bengaluru police more than two months after the girl was found dead.

The accused have been identified as Priyanka and her partner Mohan G. The victim, Vennela, died on March 25, but the case was formally registered on June 4 following a complaint filed by her father at Kadugodi Police Station.

Father alleges mother and partner killed child

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the girl’s father accused his estranged wife and her partner of intentionally killing the child and subsequently attempting to conceal evidence.

Police have registered a case under Sections 103 (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A senior police officer said that Mohan has been secured and taken into custody for questioning while further investigations continue.

Marital dispute and relationship allegations

The complainant stated that he married Priyanka in 2007 and the couple had two daughters.

According to the complaint, marital problems developed over time, and Priyanka allegedly entered into a relationship with Mohan after reconnecting with him in 2025. The father claimed that he was later compelled to sign divorce papers.

Following the separation, the elder daughter reportedly stayed with him, while Vennela continued living with her mother.

Contradictory explanations raised suspicion

The father alleged that Priyanka provided multiple and inconsistent explanations regarding the circumstances of the child’s death.

Initially, she reportedly told him that Vennela had eaten biryani on the night of March 24 and was found dead the following morning.

Later, according to the FIR, she allegedly gave a different account, claiming that the child had been left sleeping inside an air-conditioned car while she and Mohan celebrated her birthday at a café in Kolar. She reportedly stated that the child was later brought home and found dead the next morning.

The conflicting versions prompted the father to question the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death.

Postmortem report led to complaint

Police said the complainant became increasingly suspicious after obtaining the postmortem report.

He reportedly shared the report with his sister, a paediatric specialist based in England, whose observations further strengthened his doubts about the cause of death.

Based on these concerns, he approached the police and alleged that the accused had intentionally caused the child’s death and later attempted to destroy evidence.

The father also claimed that the child was viewed as an obstacle to the couple’s relationship and personal life.

Investigation underway

Police are now examining the sequence of events leading up to Vennela’s death and verifying the allegations made in the complaint.

Investigators are expected to analyse forensic evidence, witness statements and the postmortem findings to establish the exact cause of death and determine whether the child was murdered.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the postmortem findings, citing the ongoing investigation.

The case remains under active investigation, and police have said additional action will be taken based on the evidence gathered during the probe.