Bengaluru A surgeon from Victoria Hospital, Dr. Mahendra Reddy, has been arrested by Marathahalli police after it was revealed that he killed his wife, Dr. Kruthika Reddy (30), by administering a lethal dose of anesthesia and tried to pass it off as a natural death. The arrest followed a complaint by Kruthika’s father, K. Munireddy, with the police acting on evidence from the forensic science laboratory that confirmed traces of anesthesia in her system.
Six months ago, Mahendra gave Kruthika excessive anesthesia under the guise of medical treatment while she was at her parental home, leading to her respiratory failure and death. Initially, the case was registered as an “Unnatural Death Report” due to the family’s lack of suspicion. Kruthika, a dermatologist at Victoria Hospital, and Mahendra, a general surgeon there, had gotten married in May 2024. After months of deteriorating health—including gastric and sugar-related complaints Kruthika had been sent to her parental home for care. Mahendra continued to treat her personally during this period.
On April 23, 2025, Kruthika slipped into a coma after Mahendra administered an additional dose of anesthesia. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Following the FSL report and postmortem examination which confirmed anesthesia overdose as the cause of death police reclassified the case as murder and arrested Mahendra in Manipal, Udupi district. Marathahalli police have taken him into custody for further questioning.
Kruthika’s father, Munireddy, accused his son-in-law of harassment and negligence after the marriage. He claimed Mahendra often insisted on consulting his father before making household decisions and expected Kruthika to pay for personal expenses herself. Munireddy also alleged Mahendra demanded financial help for building a new hospital but only received a clinic space in Marathahalli, as the family couldn’t afford to contribute more.
The investigation continues, with Mahendra now facing charges for murder following the new forensic evidence.
