Police investigating the horrific murder of Mahalaxmi, whose body was chopped into 59 pieces, have tracked how the accused, Mukti Ranjan Roy, fled from Bengaluru to Bhadrak, Odisha, after committing the brutal crime. Mukti, with the alleged help of his two younger brothers, managed to evade capture for nearly three weeks before being found dead by suicide.
Mukti reportedly confessed to both of his brothers—Smriti Ranjan in Bengaluru and Satya Ranjan in Behrampore—about the murder shortly after it took place. Instead of turning him in, the brothers allegedly assisted him in escaping. Smriti gave Mukti a two-wheeler to flee Bengaluru, while Satya sheltered him for nine days in Behrampore, before Mukti moved to his home in Bhadrak on September 24.
Police believe that Mukti may have used threats or relied on his position as the elder sibling to prevent his brothers from reporting the crime. Bengaluru police have since detained Smriti Ranjan for questioning, while Satya provided crucial details about Mukti’s escape and the strained relationship between Mukti and Mahalaxmi, which led to the murder.
Family Tension and Financial Struggles
Satya Ranjan told police that Mukti had long been frustrated with his relationship with Mahalaxmi, as well as his financial situation. He claimed that Mukti had complained about being blackmailed by Mahalaxmi, who allegedly demanded money and pressured him to marry her. Mukti had asked his family for financial help to buy a car to drive as a taxi in Bengaluru, but his family, coming from a poor background, could not meet his demands.
On the day of the murder, Mukti told Satya that Mahalaxmi had threatened him with a knife during a heated argument, leading him to strangle her in a fit of rage. Mukti later dismembered her body with a butcher’s knife and attempted to dispose of the evidence.
Escape Plan and Suicide
Mukti arrived in Behrampore on September 16, where Satya picked him up from a market and provided him with shelter in his small one-bedroom residence. For days, Mukti remained silent and anxious, until he finally confessed the crime to his younger brother. Satya claimed that Mukti told him that Mahalaxmi had tortured him, and he had no choice but to kill her.
After spending a week in Behrampore, Mukti told Satya that he needed to meet someone in Balasore, Odisha. Satya offered to drop him off halfway on his two-wheeler, but Mukti asked him to leave him mid-journey and return to his engineering classes. Mukti reached Bhadrak on September 24, where he met his mother and confessed the crime to her as well.
The following day, on September 25, Mukti was found hanging from a tree in Bhuipur village with a suicide note beside him. In the note, Mukti expressed regret for the murder but maintained that Mahalaxmi had driven him to it due to her constant threats and demands.
Ongoing Investigation
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, speaking to the media, confirmed that the investigation into the murder is still ongoing. Both Smriti and Satya have been questioned extensively by the Karnataka and Odisha police, with further technical analysis and forensic investigations underway.
“We are conducting a thorough probe into the case, and we have recorded the statements of Mukti’s brothers. The matter remains sub-judice,” said Commissioner Dayananda.
Mukti’s death leaves many questions unanswered, but police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full details behind the gruesome murder of Mahalaxmi.
Key Points Of The News:
- Mukti Ranjan Roy allegedly murdered Mahalaxmi by strangling her and chopping her body into 59 pieces.
- After the murder, Mukti escaped from Bengaluru to Bhadrak, Odisha, with the help of his two younger brothers.
- Mukti’s brothers are being questioned for aiding his escape, while police investigate the motive behind the gruesome crime.
- Mukti was found dead by suicide on September 25, leaving a note behind, after confessing the crime to his family.