BENGALURU: A shocking crime has shaken KAS Colony in BTM Layout II Stage, where a 65-year-old woman was allegedly raped and murdered by her domestic help at her home in Bengaluru, police said on Sunday. The accused was later found hanging in the same room in an apparent case of suicide.
The victim was a homemaker and the wife of an employee at a private finance firm. The accused, Devaraju (45), a resident of Bommasandra and a native of Hosur, had been working for the family for nearly a decade.
Police said the crime took place around midnight on Saturday at the woman’s two-storey residence. It came to light around 4.30 am on Sunday when her husband returned from Dubai, where he had been on a work trip for a week.
Family Background and Living Arrangements
The family originally hails from Mangaluru and includes the couple’s only daughter, aged 26, who works at a private firm.
Devaraju was responsible for household chores, washing the car, caring for the family’s dog, and purchasing groceries and vegetables. Initially, he lived in a paying guest accommodation, but over time, the family began to trust him and allowed him to stay in their house.
He slept in the hall on the ground floor, while the couple occupied their bedroom on the same floor. Their daughter stayed in her room on the first floor.
Discovery of the Crime
A senior police officer said the woman’s husband knocked on the door after reaching home but received no response for nearly three minutes. He then called his daughter, who opened the door and returned upstairs.
When he noticed that Devaraju was not sleeping in his usual place, he became suspicious. On entering his bedroom, he found his wife lying unconscious on the bed and Devaraju hanging from a rope.
Hearing his screams, the daughter rushed downstairs and alerted the police.
Police Investigation
Personnel from Mico Layout police station rushed to the spot and conducted a detailed inspection. Senior officers, including DCP (South-East) Mohammad Sujeetha MS, also visited the scene. Marks were found on the victim’s neck.
Police said the daughter was unaware of the incident as she was on a different floor at the time. Both bodies were shifted to a mortuary for post-mortem examination, and a case of rape and murder was registered based on her complaint.
Preliminary Findings
After the autopsy, doctors orally informed police that the woman had been sexually assaulted and had died due to neck compression. Investigators suspect that the accused, who was known to consume alcohol regularly, realised that the woman had died and later took his own life.
“We are awaiting the official post-mortem report for further clarity,” a senior officer said.
The investigation is ongoing.
