A 39-year-old physiotherapist murdered her 71-year-old mother over a family dispute, stuffed her body in a suitcase and took it to the police station.
Sonali Sen, the suspect, was living with her husband Subrata Sen, an electrical engineer, mother Biva Paul, mother-in-law Chaya Rani, 70, and nine-year-old son in a first-floor flat in NSR Green apartment on Kodichikkanahalli Road in Bilekahalli, Southeast Bengaluru.
Preliminary police investigations showed that Sonali strangled her mother with a dupatta between 11 am and 11.30 am on Monday. She later stuffed the body in a trolley suitcase, placed a picture of her father inside and went to the police station in an auto-rickshaw around 1 pm. She surrendered to the police.
C K Baba, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), said: "Prima facie, we have learnt that there were some differences within the family. So, the accused woman killed her mother by strangulation. She brought the body to the police station because she didn't want her family to face any issues."
A suo motu murder case was registered at the Mico Layout police station based on a complaint filed by sub-inspector Sanjeev Gurappa Gol. More details will be known after an investigation, Baba added.
A senior officer said Sonali was the only daughter of Biva. The family is from Kolkata. After the death of her father five years ago, Biva brought her mother to her house in Bengaluru and took care of her.
The motive
Biva and Subrata's mother Chaya had disputes over the last two to three years and fought regularly. Sonali was disturbed by the two elderly women fighting. She was already disturbed over her hyperactive son who is undergoing treatment.
On Sunday, Biva and Chaya fought over trivial issues. The same night, Sonali and Biva had a conversation about the constant fights.
According to Sonali's confession, Biva told her that the issues will be solved only by her death. She asked Sonali to kill her by giving her pills and sending her to her father. Sonali thought over it through the night and decided to kill her mother.
Fateful morning
Subrata, who works at a private firm in Jigani, left home around 7.15 am on Monday. Sonali's mother-in-law was in one room and her son in the other. Sonali and Biva were in another room.
Sonali gave her around 30 blood pressure pills and locked her up. She later checked on her and found her wriggling with symptoms of paralysis. Sonali didn't want her mother to suffer. So, she took a dupatta and strangled her, police said.
Sonali told the police that without telling her mother-in-law, she bundled the body into a suitcase and hired an auto. She carried the suitcase to the auto and drove to the Mico Layout police station. She carried the suitcase inside and narrated the story to the police.
She told the police that she decided to surrender as she didn't want her husband and family to get into trouble over the incident.
Police have taken Sonali into custody for two days and are investigating her claims.