The gruesome case of a Bengaluru couple who died after poisoning their children. What happened?

In a heartbreaking incident, a family of four, including a software consultant, his wife, and their two young children, were discovered dead in their rented home in RMV 2nd Stage, Bengaluru.

The tragic event, which came to light on Monday, occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sadashivanagar police station. Authorities are currently treating the case as a suspected murder-suicide and are conducting a thorough investigation.

Here’s everything we know so far about this devastating case.

What happened?

On January 6, the family’s house help arrived for work in the morning but received no response despite knocking on the door multiple times.

After several failed attempts, she peered through the window of the rented house and discovered the four dead bodies. She immediately alerted the neighbours, who then informed the police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shekhar H Tekkannavar told News18.

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An initial investigation into the case revealed the identities of the victims as Anup Kumar, aged 38, his wife Rakhi, aged 35, their 5-year-old daughter Anupriya, and 2-year-old son Priyansh. Authorities believe the couple had poisoned their kids, before taking their own lives by hanging.

The family, natives of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, had been residing in Bengaluru for Anup Kumar’s work as a software consultant in a private firm. His wife Rakhi was a homemaker. The couple was survived by their two children.

Despite the tragic end, the couple appeared happy to those around them and had even planned a trip to Pondicherry. The packing was completed on Sunday, police said, quoting the house help. The family employed three individuals, including two cooks and one caregiver for their children, each earning Rs 15,000 per month.

What’s the reason behind their drastic step?

The Sadashivanagar police are investigating all possible angles to determine what led the family to take such an extreme step.

According to a report by News18, authorities suspect that financial troubles may have played a role. Investigators are exploring whether the family was burdened by debt or facing a financial crisis. However, no official statement has been released regarding the cause.

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Meanwhile, a report by IANS suggested that the couple may have been under emotional strain due to their elder child Anupriya’s health condition. The 5-year-old was a child with special needs, and the parents were reportedly dealing with stress, as per the house help’s statements.

As of now, no suicide note has been found at the scene. Police have registered a case and are continuing their investigation.

Also read: Death video, harassment, & more: How Delhi café owner’s suicide bears similarities with Bengaluru techie

A chilling case

On August 3 2023, Bengaluru witnessed another tragic incident involving a 31-year-old software professional who took his own life after killing his wife and two infant daughters. The incident occurred within the Kadugodi police station limits.

The deceased, identified as Veerarjuna Vijay from Andhra Pradesh, had killed his wife Hemavathi (29) and their two daughters, aged 18 months and 8 months.

According to the police, the incident came to light when neighbours reported a foul odour emanating from the family’s flat. Upon forcing entry, officers discovered the decomposing bodies of Hemavathi and the two children on the bedroom floor.

Investigations revealed that Vijay had been involved in stock market trading for several years, during which he suffered significant financial losses. Trapped in mounting debt and facing a severe economic crisis, Vijay was unable to cope with the pressure.

Further examination of Vijay’s mobile phone and laptop confirmed his involvement in share trading, which had led to his financial downfall. Police also noted that Hemavathi, aware of his stock market ventures, had often urged him to stop investing in shares, resulting in frequent arguments between the couple.

Unable to bear the strain of financial ruin and familial conflict, Vijay resorted to this drastic act.

A collection of Suicide prevention helpline numbers are available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022-27546669)

With input from agencies