Bengaluru family murder-suicide: Parents doted on the children, say neighbours

Bengaluru: A quiet residential lane in North Bengaluru woke up on Monday morning to the loud wails of a maid who just discovered four bodies at her employer's house. 

Reshma showed up for work at a duplex house in RMV 2nd Extension at 7:50 am and rang the doorbell. But there was no response. Perplexed, she gently pushed the door, and it opened. She went in, but did not find anyone. 

But the shock of her life awaited when she walked into the master bedroom on the ground floor. All four members of the family which employed her were dead. 

The deceased were Anup Kumar (38), his 35-year-old wife Rakhi, and their two children aged 5 and 2. The parents were found hanging, while the children were found dead on the bed. 

Reshma gathered her composure and called the police. 

The gravity of the case prompted the police to dispatch a 10-member team of homicide investigators: an inspector, two sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, constables, the ACP, and the DCP. 

But despite an extensive two-hour search at the house, the police found nothing that could aid the investigation. The only potential was an email that Kumar had sent his brother about his financial situation. 

Chandrika, a family friend, said Kumar had purchased land in Raipur about five years ago in joint ownership with a cousin. However, the deal caused a rift between them. 

Following the dispute, Kumar’s extended family distanced themselves from his family. Kumar was also depressed about his mentally unsound daughter, who was undergoing treatment. 

Still, the parents doted on the children. 

"From bathing to feeding, they took care of their every need. They showered the children with all their love and bought them lots of toys,” Reshma said. 

The neighborhood regarded the family well for their friendly and no-nonsense approach. The children would greet everyone in the neighborhood. The family employed three maids for cleaning, cooking and babysitting. And all were paid their wages on time. "They never gave an excuse," Reshma said. 

According to Chandrika, Kumar was planning to move to Pune after finding a good school for his daughter and had quit his job a month ago. 

The police suspect that Kumar and Rakhi took the drastic step due to financial problems, their daughter's medical condition, and the rift with their extended family. 

"The couple smothered or poisoned the children before hanging themselves. We are waiting for the victims' extended family to arrive in Bengaluru and give their consent to a post-mortem examination," an officer close to the investigation told DH.