Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, April 21: In a major development in the brutal murder of former Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash, Bengaluru police on Monday arrested his wife, Pallavi Om Prakash (64), following allegations of her involvement in the crime, made by their son.
The case has now been transferred from HSR Layout Police Station to the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for further investigation.
Confirming the arrest, DCP (South East) Sarah Fathima said, “The investigating officer has arrested 64-year-old Pallavi Om Prakash. She will be produced before the magistrate.”
The murder, which occurred on Sunday evening at the former top cop’s residence in HSR Layout, sent shockwaves across the state. Police had earlier detained both Pallavi and her daughter Kriti, named the second suspect in the First Information Report (FIR), for questioning.
However, while speaking to the media earlier, Home Minister G Parameshwara had said that no arrests had officially been made yet, stating, “We have to wait and see what the investigation reveals. While it is being said that the wife is involved, the probe is still ongoing.”
“There are allegations against the wife, but we cannot comment on any motive until the investigation is complete. I worked with Om Prakash in 2015 when I was Home Minister; he was a competent officer and a good person. This should not have happened,” he added.
The FIR, filed based on a complaint by Karthikesh Om Prakash, son of the deceased, alleges that his father had been receiving death threats from Pallavi over the past week. He also stated that Kriti had forcibly brought his father back home from his sister Sarita Kumari’s residence, where he had taken refuge due to the threats.
“I suspect that my father, former DGP Om Prakash, was killed by my mother, Pallavi, and sister Kriti. They are both suffering from depression and would quarrel with my father every day,” Karthikesh stated in his complaint.
Detailing the events of the evening, Karthikesh added: “On April 20, around 5 pm, while I was at the Karnataka Golf Association in Domlur, my neighbour Sridharan called and informed me that my father’s body was lying on the floor. I rushed home and arrived by 5.45 pm. The police and public had already gathered. My father was lying in a pool of blood with head injuries. I saw knives and a bottle beside the body.” His body was later shifted to St John’s Hospital.
The HSR Layout police have booked Pallavi and Kriti under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police sources confirmed that Pallavi had sent a chilling message to the wife of another IPS officer, stating that she had "finished off a monster". She also allegedly made a video call after the crime.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Om Prakash was attacked with chilli powder and oil before being stabbed more than 12 times in the neck, abdomen, chest, and head. Evidence indicates that he struggled for nearly 10 minutes before succumbing to his injuries.
Police are probing whether it would have been possible for one person alone to execute such a brutal attack, and are continuing to question the daughter. Pallavi reportedly told police that Kriti had been locked in a room during the incident—a claim investigators are verifying.
Sources said Pallavi had confessed during initial questioning, claiming she acted in self-defence. However, an official statement is yet to be issued. “Pallavi watched Om Prakash die and made phone calls after his death,” a source stated.
Police have also uncovered a message from Pallavi’s phone, in which she alleged that Om Prakash had terror links and was attempting to eliminate her. She further claimed he had been administering slow poison to her and their daughter. She urged WhatsApp group members to lodge complaints and demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) before exiting the group.
Investigations have revealed that Pallavi suffered from a mental condition resembling schizophrenia and had been undergoing treatment at several mental health centres. According to sources, Om Prakash had confided to close acquaintances that he wished to live separately after his daughter’s marriage.
The DCP further said that the former DGP's daughter named as the second suspect in the FIR, has not yet been arrested. Asked whether she is currently in police custody, DCP Fathima clarified that she was not. However, when asked if Kriti had been released, she did not respond.
Meanwhile, addressing the recent shootout involving the son of former underworld don Muthappa Rai, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, home minister Parameshwara said that the investigation is being carried out. He confirmed that authorities are collecting details about the firearm used and other related evidence.
“I have instructed officials to take the probe seriously, as we need to take stronger action to prevent such incidents,” Parameshwara stated.
Ricky Rai, son of the late underworld don Muthappa Rai, was shot at by unidentified assailants outside his farmhouse in Bidadi on the outskirts of Bengaluru on April 19. Ricky has been admitted to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, and sources said that he narrowly escaped death.
The Bidadi police have registered an FIR against four individuals, including Muthappa Rai's second wife, Anuradha.