BENGALURU: Police in Bengaluru say the killing of a 39-year-old bank manager by her estranged husband was planned several months in advance.The accused, a 40-year-old software engineer identified as Balamurugan, is alleged to have procured an illegal pistol months before the attack and carried a knife as a backup to ensure the murder was carried out.Bhuvaneshwari was shot at point-blank range on Tuesday evening in west Bengaluru. Police say the accused later walked into a police station, surrendered, and handed over both the firearm and the knife, claiming his wife “deserved it”.
The shooting took place around 6.30pm near 1st Main Road in the Rajajinagar Industrial Area.Investigators said Balamurugan fired five rounds at Bhuvaneshwari. Four spent cartridges were recovered from the scene, while the fifth could not be traced.
Post-mortem results later confirmed multiple bullet injuries.Police sources said the accused was taken back to the crime scene on Tuesday night for a spot inspection. During the 'mahazar', he allegedly narrated the sequence of events in detail, telling investigators that he was certain she was dead before leaving the spot and heading to the police station, as planned.
According to preliminary findings, Balamurugan had decided to kill his wife nearly four months ago.
Police said he obtained a pistol and ammunition through illegal channels. He also carried a knife, telling investigators he did not want to “miss the opportunity” to kill her if the gun failed.Officers described his conduct during questioning as calm and unemotional. Police said he showed no remorse and maintained that he felt no guilt over the killing.On Wednesday, a court remanded the accused to 14 days of police custody.
Bhuvaneshwari and Balamurugan were married in 2011. Police said marital disputes began a few years later, with the accused allegedly suspecting his wife’s fidelity and frequently accusing her of speaking to other men.Family members said the arguments intensified after the birth of their children and that repeated attempts at reconciliation failed.Relatives have alleged that Balamurugan subjected his wife to prolonged abuse and also assaulted their children.The couple’s eight-year-old son told local media that his father often fought with his mother and beat both him and his younger sister.Bhuvaneshwari is survived by her parents, two brothers, and two children — a son studying in Class 8 and a daughter in UKG.
Police are now investigating how the accused procured the firearm, whether it was sourced from outside Karnataka, and if others were involved in supplying the weapon.
Curated by Dr. Elena Rodriguez
