Suitcase murder: Suicide bid by man accused of killing wife; detained by police

Bengaluru: A Maharashtra man accused of murdering his wife in Bengaluru had consumed phenyl and pesticides, and was driving to an unknown location when the police tracked him down on Thursday night, officials said. 

Rakesh Rajendra Khedekar, 36, a project manager at a well-known private company, allegedly murdered his 32-year-old wife, Gauri Anil Sambrekar alias Gauri Khedekar, in their home in Doddakammanahalli, near Hulimavu, stuffed the body in a suitcase, and kept it in the washroom. 

He apparently planned to dispose of the body elsewhere, but chickened out at the last moment and left for his hometown of Satara. Around 5.30 pm on Thursday, he called up the landlord and told him about the body in the suitcase, a senior police officer close to the investigation told DH. 

After the murder came to light, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Sarah Fathima contacted the Maharashtra police and sought assistance in tracing Rakesh. A team of the Maharashtra police intercepted his car near Khandala and detained him. 

Rakesh had consumed phenyl and pesticide apparently to end his life, and had fallen unconscious. He was eventually taken to BJ Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune. He is recovering there and is out of danger, the officer noted. 

"According to the information provided by the patient, he consumed phenyl and pesticide," Hospital Dean Dr Eknath Pawar said. 

The Bengaluru police plan to bring Rakesh to the city on a transit warrant after doctors give approval. A team has reached the Pune hospital, the police officer stated. 

Meanwhile, the post-mortem examination was conducted after Gauri’s brother and sister-in-law reached Bengaluru. The report is awaited.

Financial issues 

Police investigations show that the couple, married for two years, had a family dispute that resulted in financial issues, and they often quarrelled. 

The couple had moved to Bengaluru about a month ago, renting a small house in Doddakammanahalli.