Police suspect that Mahendra Reddy, also a doctor, killed his wife by administering a fatal overdose of an anaesthetic drug, using his medical knowledge to make the death appear natural.

According to officials, key digital evidence recovered from mobile devices and financial applications has revealed messages allegedly sent by the accused to his girlfriend after the incident.

In one such message, he reportedly instructed her to deny any close relationship and mislead investigators if questioned. The message advised her to claim they were 'just friends' and to provide alternative explanations for frequent communication.

Police say this indicates a deliberate effort to influence witness statements and obstruct the investigation.

Investigators have also recovered another message that appears to contain an admission of guilt. In it, the accused allegedly wrote that he had killed his wife and would soon inform both families, acknowledging that he would have to face imprisonment.

Officials have described this as a crucial piece of evidence that could significantly strengthen the prosecution's case.

Forensic teams are analysing a vast digital trail linked to the accused. Over 10.34 lakh files have been examined so far, including 485 chat records from the PhonePe application, along with several deleted messages that were successfully recovered.

Authorities are using this data to reconstruct timelines, track communication patterns, and examine financial transactions that may be linked to the crime.

In a parallel legal development, a sessions court has rejected Mahendra Reddy's bail application, citing the seriousness of the charges and the strength of the evidence collected so far.

The court observed that the material on record does not justify granting bail at this stage of the investigation.

The case relates to the death of Kruthika Reddy, a dermatologist who worked with her husband at Victoria Hospital. The couple had married on May 26, 2024.

On April 23, 2025, Kruthika collapsed at her father's residence in Marathahalli, where she had been staying due to health concerns. Her husband had reportedly visited her and administered intravenous injections over two days, claiming they were part of medical treatment.

She was later declared brought dead at a nearby private hospital.

Initially, police registered the case as an unnatural death, as there were no immediate signs of foul play.

The case took a turn after suspicions were raised by her sister, Nikitha M Reddy, who demanded a detailed investigation.

Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed the presence of Propofol in multiple organs, establishing that the anaesthetic had been administered.

Following this, the case was reclassified as murder under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The accused was arrested from Manipal in Udupi district, where he had relocated after the incident. Investigators are also examining his background, including previous cases linked to his family.

Police said his twin brother, Nagendra Reddy GS, had faced cheating cases in 2018, while Mahendra Reddy and another brother were named in a 2023 threat case.

Kruthika's family has alleged that these details were concealed at the time of marriage.

The case has drawn widespread attention due to the alleged misuse of medical expertise and the extensive digital evidence pointing towards a planned crime and attempted cover-up. With forensic findings and electronic records forming the backbone of the investigation, authorities are continuing to build a strong case as legal proceedings move forward.