Bengaluru woman found dead at homestay; family claims boyfriend beat and drugged her
A woman was found dead at a homestay in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district, while her boyfriend was found unconscious in the same room. Police are investigating the incident from various angles, including murder or suicide.
A 26-year-old physiotherapist was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a homestay in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district, while her boyfriend was found unconscious in the same room and hospitalised, police said on Monday.
The victim, identified as Surabhi, was a Hindu from Bengaluru and was in a relationship with Sanjeet Ali, a Muslim man from Kerala. According to police sources, Surabhi's family had alleged that Ali introduced her to narcotics and that she developed alcohol and drug addiction during the course of the relationship. Sources also claimed Ali repeatedly assaulted Surabhi and inflicted injuries to her private parts.
Surabhi had informed her family that she intended to marry Ali, but her family opposed the relationship, police said. The couple subsequently eloped, prompting her family to file a missing complaint. Surabhi later returned and told authorities that she was a major and had the legal right to choose her partner, following which she began living with Ali.
According to investigators, a case was registered against Surabhi and Ali under the NDPS Act after drugs were allegedly recovered during a party they attended. Police sources said Surabhi's family later rescued her from the relationship and admitted her to a rehabilitation centre in Mysuru, where she spent nearly six months undergoing treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. After completing rehabilitation, she returned to live with her mother in Bengaluru.
Investigators are now trying to determine how and why Surabhi resumed contact with Ali despite the alleged abuse, drug-related allegations and her family's opposition to the relationship. Police believe Ali learnt that Surabhi had arrived in Chikkaballapur to volunteer at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus, travelled there from Kerala and booked a homestay where the two stayed together for three days before the incident.
Police said it was too early to determine whether the death was a case of murder, suicide or poisoning, and that the exact cause would be known only after the post-mortem and forensic examination.
According to booking records, the couple had been staying at the homestay for the past three days, though investigators said the exact sequence of events leading up to Surabhi's death is still being verified.
Police recovered a rope, a large number of tablets, signs of vomiting and a pillow from the room where the victim was staying. However, investigators found no visible external injuries or blood-related wounds on her body.
"Since there are no visible external injuries or blood-related injuries on the body, it is not yet clear whether this is a case of suicide or murder. The exact cause of death can only be established after the post-mortem examination," Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chowksi said.
COPS PROBING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Surabhi reportedly arrived in Chikkaballapur four or five days ago to volunteer at the SAI campus. Her family has confirmed this, while police are verifying the details with SAI authorities.
Police are probing multiple angles, including whether Ali murdered Surabhi and then attempted suicide, whether the couple entered into a suicide pact, or whether poisoning was involved.
"We cannot say whether she was murdered, poisoned, or died by suicide. A rope was also found inside the room, so all possibilities remain open. There is also a possibility of poisoning, as the man is undergoing treatment," SP Chowksi said.
Police said Ali, who is believed to be unemployed, has no known criminal records apart from an NDPS case registered against him and Surabhi. Investigators said his statement could prove crucial in reconstructing the events leading up to Surabhi's death once he regains consciousness.
A 26-year-old physiotherapist was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a homestay in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district, while her boyfriend was found unconscious in the same room and hospitalised, police said on Monday.
The victim, identified as Surabhi, was a Hindu from Bengaluru and was in a relationship with Sanjeet Ali, a Muslim man from Kerala. According to police sources, Surabhi's family had alleged that Ali introduced her to narcotics and that she developed alcohol and drug addiction during the course of the relationship. Sources also claimed Ali repeatedly assaulted Surabhi and inflicted injuries to her private parts.
Surabhi had informed her family that she intended to marry Ali, but her family opposed the relationship, police said. The couple subsequently eloped, prompting her family to file a missing complaint. Surabhi later returned and told authorities that she was a major and had the legal right to choose her partner, following which she began living with Ali.
According to investigators, a case was registered against Surabhi and Ali under the NDPS Act after drugs were allegedly recovered during a party they attended. Police sources said Surabhi's family later rescued her from the relationship and admitted her to a rehabilitation centre in Mysuru, where she spent nearly six months undergoing treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. After completing rehabilitation, she returned to live with her mother in Bengaluru.
Investigators are now trying to determine how and why Surabhi resumed contact with Ali despite the alleged abuse, drug-related allegations and her family's opposition to the relationship. Police believe Ali learnt that Surabhi had arrived in Chikkaballapur to volunteer at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus, travelled there from Kerala and booked a homestay where the two stayed together for three days before the incident.
Police said it was too early to determine whether the death was a case of murder, suicide or poisoning, and that the exact cause would be known only after the post-mortem and forensic examination.
According to booking records, the couple had been staying at the homestay for the past three days, though investigators said the exact sequence of events leading up to Surabhi's death is still being verified.
Police recovered a rope, a large number of tablets, signs of vomiting and a pillow from the room where the victim was staying. However, investigators found no visible external injuries or blood-related wounds on her body.
"Since there are no visible external injuries or blood-related injuries on the body, it is not yet clear whether this is a case of suicide or murder. The exact cause of death can only be established after the post-mortem examination," Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chowksi said.
COPS PROBING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Surabhi reportedly arrived in Chikkaballapur four or five days ago to volunteer at the SAI campus. Her family has confirmed this, while police are verifying the details with SAI authorities.
Police are probing multiple angles, including whether Ali murdered Surabhi and then attempted suicide, whether the couple entered into a suicide pact, or whether poisoning was involved.
"We cannot say whether she was murdered, poisoned, or died by suicide. A rope was also found inside the room, so all possibilities remain open. There is also a possibility of poisoning, as the man is undergoing treatment," SP Chowksi said.
Police said Ali, who is believed to be unemployed, has no known criminal records apart from an NDPS case registered against him and Surabhi. Investigators said his statement could prove crucial in reconstructing the events leading up to Surabhi's death once he regains consciousness.
