Missing person complaint blows the lid off seven brutal murders in Bengaluru

UPDATE - follow-up to A missing persons complaint that unravelled Bengaluru's seven murders: Police have revealed that Sunita and her mother Roopavathi were the very first victims killed by cab driver-turned-YouTuber Indushekhar. Investigators stated the couple had been married for 20 years and faced frequent arguments over their jobs, with Sunita working as an advocate's typist while Indushekhar drove a cab.

The Killings

According to police, Indushekhar planned the attacks for over a year due to growing anger and alleged verbal abuse from his wife and her family. A visit by Roopavathi on October 14 acted as the final trigger. He then allegedly invited Sunita's younger brother Shivakumar, his wife Divya, and their seven-year-old son Puneeth to dinner before killing them. On October 30, he allegedly invited another brother, Shankar, and his wife Nalini to his home and murdered them as well. The killings occurred between October 16 and October 31, with the last two bodies disposed of on November 1 or 2.

The Investigation

The probe began on November 3 when Nalini's mother Tungamma lodged a missing person complaint after finding her daughter's phone switched off and her house locked. Tungamma alerted Kalavathi, the mother of Divya, after finding Indushekhar's house locked too. Shopkeeper Karthik said police visited the area on November 3 and November 4 to make inquiries. Police tracked Indushekhar using technical inputs and intercepted his car in the city.

Reactions and Response

Tension rose near the Rajajinagar police station on Friday as grieving family members accused officers of delaying action on their complaint since November 1. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh denied the delay claims and promised action if lapses are found. Commissioner Singh also stated that evidence will be presented before a fast-track court, with senior officers monitoring the case. While the accused claims he used a grinder stone, police are yet to confirm the exact weapon and cause of death until bodies are recovered, though they have seized a suspected weapon.

Context

Missing person reports lodged by concerned family members are often the vital first step that alerts law enforcement to hidden crimes and leads to major police investigations. In complex criminal cases involving multiple victims, authorities typically rely on technical surveillance, mobile tracking, and witness statements to locate suspects who are on the run.