A shocking case of alleged domestic betrayal has emerged from Bengaluru’s medical fraternity, where a well-known general surgeon, Dr Mahendra Reddy, has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, Dr Kruthika M Reddy, by injecting her with a restricted anaesthetic drug.
The couple, both doctors at Victoria Hospital, had married in May 2024. Less than a year later, on April 23, 2025, Kruthika, a 28-year-old dermatologist, was found unresponsive at her father’s house in Marathahalli, where she was recuperating due to health concerns.
Mahendra had visited her in the days prior to her death and reportedly administered IV injections under the guise of treatment. She was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared her “brought dead”.
Initial Suspicion Dismissed, Sister Pushes for Probe
At first, police registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR), treating the case as a possible medical episode. But suspicions were raised by Kruthika’s elder sister, Dr Nikitha M Reddy, a radiologist, who challenged the initial findings and demanded a deeper investigation. Her insistence proved crucial.
After months of waiting, a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report revealed that Propofol, a powerful anaesthetic drug not intended for domestic use, was present in several of Kruthika’s internal organs. This confirmation prompted police to upgrade the case from an unnatural death to murder under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Following the FSL report, authorities located Mahendra in Manipal, Udupi district, where he had shifted after Kruthika’s death. A Look-Out Circular (LOC) had already been issued to prevent his escape. He was arrested on October 14, after a formal complaint was filed by Kruthika’s father, Muni Reddy.
Misuse of Medical Access Alleged
Police suspect that Mahendra, leveraging his access to hospital drugs and his knowledge of medical procedures, used Propofol, a drug meant strictly for operation theatres to carry out the crime discreetly. Investigators are examining how he obtained the drug, and whether the act was premeditated.
“The evidence so far points towards a deliberate act. The accused brought her to the hospital without disclosing any possible medical complications. Now, the forensic findings indicate sedative use. This raises serious concerns,” said Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh.
Troubling Family History Surfaces
Further inquiry has revealed a concerning background. Mahendra’s twin brother, Dr Nagendra Reddy GS, has faced multiple criminal and fraud charges since 2018. Mahendra himself, along with another brother Raghava Reddy GS, were named in a 2023 case involving threats to a complainant’s family. Kruthika’s family claims these details were not disclosed during marriage talks.
Kruthika was a rising star in the field of dermatology. She held an MBBS from Vydehi Institute, an MD from Navodaya Medical College, and a DNB in Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy from NBEMS. She was days away from launching her own clinic, “Skin & Scalpel”, scheduled to open on May 4, 2025.
Her father, devastated by the betrayal, told police, “Kruthika trusted her husband completely. She believed in his love and in his profession. But the same medical knowledge that should have saved lives was used to end hers. Justice for Kruthika is justice for every woman who believes in love and integrity.”
Investigation Ongoing
Marathahalli Police continue to question Mahendra and are closely reviewing hospital drug inventories, his access to controlled substances, and electronic communications to trace the steps that led to the murder.
The case has shaken both the medical and public communities, raising serious questions about trust, abuse of professional privilege, and concealed family histories in matrimonial alliances.
