In a case that has sent shockwaves through Bengaluru, a 40-year-old software engineer was remanded to 14 days of police custody on Wednesday for the cold-blooded murder of his wife, a 39-year-old bank manager. The horrific crime, executed with chilling precision in the city's west, was allegedly planned nearly four months in advance.
A Calculated Crime in Rajajinagar
The victim, Bhuvaneshwari, a resident of 10th Cross in Rajajinagar, was shot at point-blank range by her estranged husband, Balamurugan, near 1st Main Road in the Rajajinagar Industrial Area around 6:30 pm on Tuesday. Police sources revealed that Balamurugan had made up his mind to kill his wife almost four months prior. Following the shooting, he calmly walked into the Magadi Road police station, surrendered, and handed over a pistol and a knife to the officers.
Investigations indicate that months before the attack, Balamurugan had procured a pistol and ammunition through illegal channels. Demonstrating a ruthless determination, he also carried a knife as a backup. When questioned about the second weapon, the accused reportedly told police he did not want to "miss the opportunity" to kill Bhuvaneshwari. Had the gun failed, he intended to use the knife to finish the job.
Chilling Lack of Remorse and Scene Reconstruction
What makes the crime even more disturbing is the accused's apparent lack of any remorse. During interrogation, he allegedly told investigators he felt no guilt and claimed his wife "deserved it." On Tuesday night, police took him back to the crime scene for a spot inspection, or 'mahazar'. There, he calmly narrated the sequence of events, stating, "I fired five rounds at her. She had a head injury. I was sure she was dead. According to the plan, I walked to the police station and surrendered."
Officers recovered four spent cartridges from the scene, though a fifth could not be immediately traced. The post-mortem report later confirmed multiple bullet injuries, corroborating his account. Police are now intensively investigating how the weapon was sourced, exploring whether it was brought from outside Karnataka and if others were involved in procuring it.
A Marriage Marred by Suspicion and Alleged Abuse
Bhuvaneshwari and Balamurugan had been married since 2011. According to sources, trouble began a few years into the marriage when Balamurugan started suspecting his wife's fidelity, frequently accusing her of speaking to other men. The disputes reportedly intensified after the birth of their son and continued unabated even after the birth of their daughter. Family members attempted reconciliation, but their efforts were in vain.
In a heartbreaking turn, family members of the victim have alleged that Balamurugan not only subjected Bhuvaneshwari to prolonged abuse but also assaulted their children. Bhuvaneshwari is survived by her parents, two elder brothers, and her two young children—a son studying in class 8 and a daughter in UKG. The couple's eight-year-old son told media that his father often fought with his mother and beat both him and his sister.
The case has thrown a stark light on the extreme consequences of domestic discord and alleged long-term abuse, leaving a family shattered and a community in Bengaluru grappling with the brutality of the premeditated act.
