A financial crisis driven by a lavish lifestyle is believed to be the root cause of the tragic murder-suicide involving Karthik Bhat and his family in Pakshikere. Despite a prolonged period of unemployment, Karthik maintained an upscale lifestyle, resulting in significant debt that may have pushed him to take the lives of his wife Priyanka, their son Hriday, and himself.
After post-mortem examinations at Wenlock Hospital, all three were cremated together at Kerekaadu. Following Karthik’s written wish, his in-laws respectfully performed the final rites.
Karthik, previously employed at a society in Mangaluru, resided with his family in a relative’s apartment, though he was estranged from his elderly parents, who ran a local canteen. Financial pressures were compounded by reported gambling losses and mounting debts to friends. Despite the strain, he purchased an air conditioner, with his father covering the electricity bill, and recently acquired a scooter under his father’s name.
Neighbors observed a stark change in Karthik’s behavior post-marriage. They remembered a once-polite young man who had become reserved and distanced from his family. Priyanka’s mother, however, described the couple as happy, with plans to visit her in December.
The tragic incident appears unplanned; Priyanka and Hriday, found with neck injuries and no signs of struggle, were likely attacked in their sleep. Karthik reportedly attempted hanging before lying on railway tracks. Police suspect an impulsive reaction to a late-night argument or a creditor’s call.
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