Bengaluru: A 23-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her live-in partner in the early hours of March 12 at Ramdas Layout in Kodathi, a suburb of Bengaluru. The accused allegedly attempted to stage the crime as a suicide, but a police investigation uncovered the truth, leading to his arrest.
The victim has been identified as Ranjitha HG, while the accused has been named as Ayyappa KB. Police said the couple had been living together in a rented house in Kodathi before the incident occurred.
Authorities have registered a murder case and are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crime.
Couple had been living together
According to police sources, both Ranjitha and Ayyappa were natives of Kodagu district. The couple had moved to Bengaluru for work and had been residing together in a rented house at Ramdas Layout in Kodathi.
Ayyappa was employed at a dry fruit shop in the city, while Ranjitha worked as a domestic helper in nearby households.
Family members said the two were in a relationship for some time. On December 31, 2025, Ranjitha reportedly took Ayyappa to her home and introduced him to her family as her boyfriend. She informed them that she intended to marry him in the future.
During this meeting, Ayyappa allegedly told the family that he had already been married earlier but was living separately from his wife due to marital issues. He reportedly promised that he would marry Ranjitha after obtaining a divorce.
Victim had complained of harassment
According to a complaint filed by Ranjitha’s mother Rani, the relationship between the couple had become increasingly troubled.
About two weeks before the incident, Ranjitha reportedly contacted her mother and complained that Ayyappa frequently assaulted her over trivial issues.
She also alleged that he regularly invited friends home for parties and behaved aggressively towards her. The situation reportedly worsened over time, causing distress to the young woman.
On March 1, the accused allegedly assaulted Ranjitha again. During the argument, he is also accused of verbally abusing her over her caste and expressing hostility towards her.
The family later stated that they had become worried about her safety following these incidents.
Accused claimed it was suicide
In the early hours of March 12, Ayyappa allegedly called Ranjitha’s sister and informed her that Ranjitha had attempted suicide.
He told the family that he had rushed her to a private hospital located on Sarjapura Road, where doctors declared her brought dead.
However, Ranjitha’s family members suspected foul play and alleged that Ayyappa had murdered her and attempted to pass it off as suicide.
They subsequently approached the police and demanded a detailed investigation into the incident.
Police investigation reveals murder
During the preliminary investigation, police reportedly found evidence suggesting that Ranjitha had been strangulated.
Investigators believe the accused used a wire to strangle her before attempting to create the appearance of suicide by tying a rope to a ceiling fan in the house.
The suspicious circumstances and inconsistencies in the accused’s statement led police to interrogate him further.
During questioning, Ayyappa reportedly confessed to committing the crime.
Police officials stated that the accused had attempted to mislead investigators by fabricating a suicide scenario, but forensic evidence and questioning revealed the truth behind the incident.
Case registered under BNS and SC/ST Act
A senior police officer confirmed that a case has been registered against the accused under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which deals with punishment for murder.
Additionally, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 have also been invoked due to allegations that the victim was abused over her caste.
Police said further investigation is underway to gather additional evidence and verify the sequence of events leading to the murder.
Concerns over domestic violence
The incident has once again highlighted concerns surrounding domestic violence and abuse in live-in relationships.
Experts say victims often hesitate to report abuse due to emotional attachment, financial dependence or fear of social stigma.
Police have urged people experiencing violence or harassment to seek help from authorities or support services before situations escalate into serious crimes.
As the investigation continues, authorities said strict action will be taken against the accused in accordance with the law.
