In a shocking incident, a 40-year-old IT employee shot his wife dead after receiving a divorce notice, triggering panic in a busy residential area of Bengaluru on Tuesday evening.
Police identified the accused as Balamurugan, a native of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. His wife Maheshwari, 39, also hailed from Salem. The couple married in 2011 and have two children. They had been living in Bengaluru since 2018.
Balamurugan was employed with an IT firm, while Maheshwari worked as an assistant manager in a private bank. Police said Balamurugan had quit his job a few months ago, following which differences arose between the couple. He allegedly suspected his wife’s conduct, leading to frequent disputes.
Due to the rift, Maheshwari moved out with the children and began living separately in a house at Rajajinagar in Bengaluru. Last week, she sent a legal notice to Balamurugan seeking divorce, which reportedly enraged him.
On Tuesday evening around 7 pm, Balamurugan followed Maheshwari as she was returning home from work. In a crowded area of Rajajinagar, he intercepted her and fired multiple rounds at close range using a country-made pistol.
Maheshwari, who sustained critical injuries, was rescued by bystanders and rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite intensive treatment, she succumbed to her injuries.
After the incident, Balamurugan attempted to flee and later jumped into a nearby water body. Police managed to rescue and arrest him. A case has been registered, and further investigation is under way.
