Mysuru: A 50-year-old man was allegedly killed by his wife in Mysuru’s Kuvempunagar, with the accused initially attempting to portray the death as a heart attack, police said on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as Nithyananda, an employee at a Mahindra showroom. His wife, Sushila, a teacher at a private school, has been taken into police custody.
Police said the couple lived alone in their residence in Kuvempunagar.
Family’s suspicion led to police complaint
The case came to light after Nithyananda’s elder brother visited the house and allegedly noticed injury marks around the victim’s neck.
Suspecting that the death was not due to natural causes, he approached the police and lodged a complaint.
According to investigators, the complaint prompted a detailed inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Nithyananda’s death.
During the preliminary investigation, Sushila allegedly admitted to her involvement in the incident, police said.
Marital disputes suspected as motive
Investigators believe long-standing marital issues may have led to the crime.
According to police sources, the couple had been facing several personal and domestic issues, including disputes related to childlessness, financial matters and property-related disagreements.
Officials are examining whether these factors contributed to the alleged incident.
Police said the exact motive is still being investigated.
Incident allegedly occurred on Sunday night
According to the preliminary investigation, Nithyananda had returned home on Sunday night after consuming alcohol.
Investigators allege that while he was asleep in an intoxicated state, Sushila used a rope to kill him.
Police said she remained inside the house the following morning and allegedly did not respond despite repeated knocks on the door.
Concern grew when Nithyananda failed to answer phone calls from family members and friends.
Heart attack claim raised suspicion
A friend of the deceased, identified as Darshan, reportedly visited the residence after repeated calls went unanswered but received no response.
Police said Sushila later informed Nithyananda’s brother over the phone that he had suffered a heart attack.
However, the family became suspicious after noticing the injury marks on the victim’s body and alerted the police.
The subsequent investigation led to the alleged confession by the accused.
Investigation continues
Police have taken Sushila into custody and are continuing their investigation into the case.
Officials said statements from family members and other witnesses are being recorded, and forensic evidence is also being examined.
The incident has shocked residents of Kuvempunagar, with neighbours expressing disbelief over the alleged crime involving a couple who had been living alone for several years.
Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain all the circumstances that led to the incident.