Woman found dead at Chikkaballapur homestay; boyfriend critical, police probe all angles

CHIKKABALLAPUR: A 26-year-old physiotherapist was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a private homestay near Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapur district, while her boyfriend was found unconscious in the same room, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Sai Surabhi, a resident of Bengaluru. Her boyfriend, Mohammed Sanjeeth Ali P P, a native of Kerala, has been admitted to hospital and remains unconscious. Police said that they are investigating all possible angles, including murder, suicide and poisoning.

Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chowksey, who visited the scene, said it was too early to determine the cause of death. “There were no visible external injuries or blood-related injuries on the woman’s body. A rope, a large number of tablets, and signs of vomiting were found inside the room. A pillow has also been seized. All possibilities remain open — murder, suicide by hanging, or poisoning,” the SP told reporters.

He said the exact cause of death would be established only after the post-mortem and forensic examination reports are received. According to police, the couple had checked into the homestay three days before the incident. Investigators are verifying the sequence of events leading to Surabhi’s death.

Police said Surabhi and Ali were in a relationship, which was allegedly opposed by the woman’s family. According to investigators, Surabhi had earlier informed her family about her intention to marry Ali, but the proposal was not accepted. A missing person complaint had subsequently been filed after the couple left home together.

Police said Surabhi later appeared before them and stated that she was an adult and had the legal right to choose her partner, following which she began living with Ali.

The SP said Surabhi’s family informed police that she had recently travelled to Chikkaballapur for voluntary service at the SAI campus. Police are verifying this claim with the concerned authorities.

“We are verifying this with SAI authorities, though her family has confirmed she had come for voluntary service. We believe the man came to know of her presence, booked the homestay and she came there to meet him. The sequence of events is still being verified,” Chowksey said.

Surabhi’s family has alleged that Ali introduced her to narcotic substances and that she developed alcohol and drug addiction. They also accused him of physically assaulting her. However, police said these allegations are under investigation and no conclusions have been drawn.

Police sources said the couple had earlier been booked under the NDPS Act by Kumaraswamy Layout Police after drugs were allegedly found during a party they attended. “This is not a criminal antecedents case. The man is believed to be unemployed,” Chowksey said.

Police said the rope, tablets and signs of vomiting recovered from the room indicate that poisoning is also a possible angle. “Since there are no visible external injuries, we cannot say whether she was murdered, poisoned, or died by suicide. The injured man is also undergoing treatment. There is a possibility of poisoning,” the SP said.

Ali’s statement is expected to be crucial once he regains consciousness. “We are probing whether the man murdered the woman and then attempted suicide, or whether the couple entered into a suicide pact. All angles are being investigated,” police sources said.

The case has been registered at Nandi Police Station. Surabhi’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination, while forensic experts have collected evidence from the homestay. “Only when the injured man is able to speak, or after we receive the post-mortem report, will we be able to confirm how the woman died,” Chowksey said.

Police said the investigation will be guided by forensic and medical evidence, and that the post-mortem and forensic reports are awaited to determine the exact cause of death. The case continues to be under investigation. (ANI)