Bengaluru: In a shocking incident that has stunned residents of south Bengaluru, a 17-year-old girl and four of her male friends have been accused of murdering her 34-year-old mother and staging the crime scene to make it look like a suicide. The gruesome crime occurred in Uttarahalli, and police said the motive stemmed from personal conflicts and the mother’s objection to her daughter’s relationship.

The case, which was initially believed to be a suicide, took a drastic turn when the girl attempted to mislead her family members by concocting a false story. However, her grandmother grew suspicious and alerted the police, leading to the teenager’s eventual confession.

Murder staged as suicide

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West) Anitha B. Haddannavar, the crime took place on October 25, when the girl allegedly invited her friends to her residence on 6th Main Road near Circle Maramma Temple, Uttarahalli. The victim, identified as Netravathi, lived separately from her husband and worked as a telecaller and helper at a loan recovery firm.

Netravathi was reportedly opposed to her daughter’s relationship with a 17-year-old boy — one of the accused — and had warned him against visiting her house again. This objection, combined with her earlier police complaint against the group for theft and assault, appears to have triggered the murderous plan.

Investigators said the girl and her friends met at a mall on October 24 and conspired to kill Netravathi. The four boys — aged between 13 and 17 — went to her house the following night. Using a spare key, the girl opened the door for them around 11pm. When Netravathi confronted them and threatened to call the police, the boys allegedly strangled her with a towel while she was inebriated.

After ensuring she was dead, the group hanged her body from a ceiling fan using a sari to make it appear as if she had taken her own life. They then locked the house and fled the scene.

Crime unravels through confession

Police said Netravathi’s partner, Ravi Kumar, who had been staying separately, visited the house the next morning and found it locked. Assuming she was out, he left. The next day, Netravathi’s sister, Anitha, called him, and together they discovered the body through a window. Believing it to be a suicide, the family informed the police.

As the girl was missing, they suspected she had eloped with her boyfriend, and a kidnapping case was registered at the Subramanyapura Police Station.

However, on Thursday afternoon, the case took a dramatic turn when the girl appeared at her grandmother’s house in Kaggalipura. Her erratic behaviour and inconsistencies in her statements aroused suspicion. When questioned by relatives, she broke down and revealed that she and her friends had murdered her mother. She claimed that her friends had threatened her with a knife not to disclose the crime.

Investigation and arrests

Following her confession, the Bengaluru City Police detained the girl and three of her accomplices. A 13-year-old boy, the cousin of the main accused, is reportedly absconding. All detained juveniles are being interrogated, and efforts are underway to trace the missing boy.

The case has been registered under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by Netravathi’s sister.

A senior officer involved in the investigation said, “The crime was planned in advance, and the accused took steps to destroy evidence by staging the scene as a suicide. We are gathering digital and forensic evidence to strengthen the case.”

Background of the accused

Police said all five accused are school dropouts, except for the 13-year-old, who is still in Class 7. The teenagers are from working-class families and are said to have been influenced by delinquent peer groups. The girl had reportedly dropped out of school in Class 9 and had frequent quarrels with her mother over her relationship and behaviour.

Authorities have shifted the girl and the three boys to juvenile correctional homes, while the absconding minor remains on the run. Police have also reached out to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for counselling and rehabilitation measures for the accused.

Conclusion

The chilling case has raised serious concerns about the growing instances of juvenile crime and lack of parental supervision in urban households. Police officials stressed the need for early intervention and psychological support for troubled teens to prevent such tragedies.