BENGALURU: A WhatsApp voice message sent by a 32-year-old civil engineer to his mother around 1.30am on Thursday has emerged as a key detail in the deaths of a couple in Laggere, north Bengaluru.Sumant Jain, 32, and his wife Padmavathi, 29, were found dead at their rented house in Rajeshwarinagar, where they had been living for around four months.Police said Sumant was found hanging from a ceiling fan in the hall, while Padmavathi was found dead inside the house. Her family has alleged that Sumant killed her before taking his own life.
Couple had reportedly argued over the house
Sumant, who worked as a civil engineer at a firm in Nandini Layout, had married Padmavathi four years ago. The couple had no children.Padmavathi, a software engineer with a tech company in Whitefield, was originally from Dharwad district.According to the preliminary investigation, Sumant sent a WhatsApp voice message to his mother after an argument with Padmavathi. He reportedly said she had told him, ‘This house is mine’.An upset Sumant is said to have told his mother that he was going to end his life and asked her to take his provident fund money and belongings kept at the house.Police said the couple’s argument later turned violent.
Wife allegedly suffocated with pillow
According to police, Sumant allegedly hit Padmavathi on the face during the dispute and suffocated her with a pillow.When he later tried to wake her, he allegedly realised that she was not breathing. Police said he then panicked, called his mother and told her what had happened before sending her a message.After hearing the voice message, Sumant’s mother and other family members tried calling him. When he did not respond, they contacted the landlord.When the house was opened, Sumant was found hanging from a ceiling fan in the hall, while Padmavathi was found dead.
Police yet to establish exact sequence of deaths
Deputy commissioner of police (north-west) Nagesh DL said Padmavathi’s family had filed a complaint accusing her husband of killing her before dying by suicide.“We are yet to ascertain if she also committed suicide or it was a murder. She was found lying dead while her husband was found hanging,” Nagesh said.The Rajagopal Nagar Police reached the spot after being informed and registered a case.Police said the exact cause of Padmavathi’s death and the precise sequence of events leading to both deaths are yet to be established. A detailed investigation is underway.
