In a tragic development linked to the Mahalakshmi murder case in Bengaluru, Mukti Ranjan Roy, the suspected main accused has reportedly committed suicide in Odisha. This disturbing news emerges as the police were ramping up the investigation into the gruesome murder which had garnered considerable public attention.
Roy was found hanged from a tree in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha on September 25, 2024. Reports suggest that he may have taken his own life after fleeing from Bengaluru, which was where the murder took place. The locals discovered Roy’s body and then alerted the authorities.
The Mahalakshmi murder case follows an investigation into the death of a woman whose body was discovered dismembered and stuffed into a refrigerator, shocking the community. There had been an ongoing investigation into her murder, with Roy known to be a person of interest. His subsequent suicide has raised numerous questions about the extent of Roy’s involvement, and undoubtedly adds to the case scenario of the murder of an unknown individual whose remaining body parts are yet to be discovered – and now adds to question of justice.
Local police confirmed that there is an active investigation into suspicious activities and that they are reviewing evidence they had collected leading up to Roy’s death. As the case evolves, there is the phenomenon of the more sinister aspects of crime, and pressures on individuals as they navigate the intense psychological processes they are exposed to when they become a suspect.
Speaking to the press earlier, Home Minister Parameshwara confirmed that several people had been picked up for questioning, but Roy had emerged as the prime suspect based on evidence gathered so far. “After nabbing him, we would have gathered more information,” the minister had said. The estranged husband of the victim also voiced his suspicion over a man acquainted with Mahalakshmi who lives in the same neighbourhood. The woman was felt to have been quite close to him.
On the safety issues of women in Bengaluru, Parameshwara added, ” Several precautions are already in place like the Nirbhaya programme as well as CCTV cameras. We are very careful and taking many precautions, yet we need to put in more effort so that women are safe.”.
