Bengaluru police have recovered the bodies of two more victims in the ongoing investigation into a mass murder case that has shocked the city. The bodies, identified as 40-year-old Sunitha—the wife of the accused—and her 65-year-old mother, Rupavathi, were discovered in the Yercaud forest area of Salem district, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday. This development brings the total number of recovered bodies to three, following the earlier discovery of seven-year-old Puneeth near Nandi Hills.
The accused, 52-year-old cab driver S. Indusekhar, is currently in police custody. According to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Seemant Kumar Singh, Indusekhar is the primary source of information regarding the disposal sites. A police team travelled to Salem with the suspect on Saturday, where he pointed out the locations where he had allegedly dumped the remains. Following these disclosures, the Salem police have initiated post-mortem examinations, and the bodies are expected to be released to the family for final rites once necessary legal formalities are concluded.
The scale of the crime emerged after a relative, Tungamma, approached the Srirampura police on November 3, reporting that her daughter Nalini and son-in-law Shankar had gone missing. Investigators subsequently traced Indusekhar and his minor daughter using mobile tower data and other leads. Upon his arrest on November 4, the suspect allegedly confessed to the killings of seven individuals, citing a long-standing personal dispute as the motive. The investigation has also implicated his 17-year-old daughter, who allegedly assisted him in both the murders and the subsequent disposal of the victims.
The First Information Report (FIR) details a gruesome timeline, suggesting the killings occurred in phases between October 16 and November 1. Police suspect that Indusekhar invited his victims to dinner, spiked their food and drinks with sleeping tablets, and then used a grinding stone to kill them while they were incapacitated. Following the murders, the victims' bodies were transported to various locations in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, including Nandi Hills, Chamundi Hills, Shiradi Ghat, and the Yercaud forest area, between November 1 and 3.
In a disturbing display of premeditation, investigators found that the accused went to great lengths to avoid detection. He reportedly wrapped the bodies in multiple layers of adhesive tape to contain the smell of decomposition and utilized various fragrance products inside his vehicle to mask any odour during transport. The police also discovered that the suspect used a Toyota Etios car featuring a 'PRESS' sticker and a banner reading 'Thaana Varadi'. Authorities believe these markings were deliberately placed to create a false identity, allowing the vehicle to pass through routine police checkpoints without attracting scrutiny.
As the investigation deepens, three separate police teams are currently conducting search operations to locate the remaining four victims. The police are continuing to examine the full extent of the plot, which they suspect was highly calculated. The recovery process remains ongoing as officials continue to follow the leads provided by the accused to ensure all victims are accounted for and handed over to their respective families.
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