Bengaluru techie who murdered his parents found to have schizophrenia

Bengaluru: Rohan Chandra Bhat, the 33-year-old US-returned techie who allegedly stabbed his parents to death on Wednesday, had been mentally disturbed as he had no jobs for years. 

Around 8.30 am on Wednesday, Rohan visited his parents' home in Vignan Nagar, near HAL, and stabbed them to death. Some morning walkers saw him run out in bloodstained clothes. They also heard his parents' cries for help. 

Rohan's father — Naveen Chandra Bhat (60) — was a retired Indian Navy captain. His mother — Dr Shyamala Bhat (55) — was a dentist by profession. Rohan has a younger sister, Rashmi Chandra Bhat. She lives in the US. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that Rohan allegedly stabbed his parents in the back, stomach, neck, face and hands multiple times  during an altercation. 

Police investigations into the twin murders that sent shockwaves through the city reveal Rohan's acute mental condition. 

"Doctors have diagnosed him with schizophrenia (psychosis). We produced him before the court to seek custodial interrogation, but the court directed that he be sent to Nimhans for a medical fitness certification before his custody can be granted," a senior police officer said. 

Accordingly, Rohan has been remanded in judicial custody and admitted to Nimhans for counselling. "We will take him in police custody for further investigations," the officer said. 

Rohan reportedly told the police that his mother would give him milk laced with sleeping pills with the intention of killing him. His father would scold him for "spoiling" the family's reputation by not finding employment. Rohan was also compared with his sister, who has a good job in the US. 

Police also believe that Rohan had been harassing his parents for money as he wanted to found his own startup after returning from the US. 

Speaking to DH, the family's gardener described Dr Shyamala as a kind dentist, who treated many people for free. 

"They (Rohan's parents) were not in town for 10 days and had gone to Odisha for a family function. They returned to the villa just a day before the tragic incident. I never met their son Rohan during my working hours. He lived separately in Varthur," the gardener said.