The investigation into the deaths of an elderly couple at their son’s apartment in Bengaluru’s Sampigehalli has taken a fresh turn, with police now suspecting that the 77-year-old woman may have died of a heart attack before her 85-year-old husband allegedly died by suicide.
The deceased have been identified as Shivanandan Prasad, 85, and his wife, Sumitra Devi, 77. The couple had travelled to Bengaluru a few days ago to stay with their son, Kiran Kumar Kashyap, at his apartment.
Initial suspicion under review
When the bodies were discovered on Tuesday morning, investigators initially suspected that Prasad had smothered his wife before taking his own life by hanging from the window grill.
However, police sources now believe that Sumitra Devi may have suffered a heart attack. Distressed by her sudden death, Prasad is suspected to have died by suicide.
Senior police officials, however, said the exact cause of Sumitra Devi’s death can only be confirmed after the postmortem report is received.
Couple had health issues
According to police, Sumitra Devi had been suffering from eye and hearing-related ailments, while Prasad had a history of heart-related health problems.
Their son, who works as a senior supervisor with a private security agency, was staying in the apartment with his family. His wife and son were away attending a relative’s wedding when the incident occurred.
Kashyap reportedly found the bodies inside a room at around 6 am on Tuesday and alerted the police.
Investigation continues
Police have shifted both bodies for postmortem examination and are awaiting the medical findings before reaching a final conclusion. Investigators said the case remains under inquiry, and the postmortem report will play a crucial role in determining the exact sequence of events.