Karnataka homestay death case: Deceased woman’s family alleges ‘love jihad’

Bengaluru, June 29 (IANS) The mysterious death of a young woman at a homestay near Muddenahalli in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district took a political turn on Monday after her family alleged that it was a case of “love jihad” and accused her boyfriend, Sanjeet Ali, of murdering her after allegedly harassing her for years.

Breaking down before the media, the deceased woman’s mother, T.R. Geetha, claimed that Sanjeet Ali, a native of Kerala, had allegedly made her daughter addicted to drugs, repeatedly harassed her in the name of love and was responsible for her death.

Police, however, said the investigation is still at a preliminary stage and that it is too early to conclude whether the case involves murder, suicide or poisoning.

Speaking to reporters, Geetha said her daughter, Sai Surabhi, was a student at Dayananda Sagar College when she came into contact with Sanjeet Ali through mutual friends.

“Through her friends, Surabhi got acquainted with Sanjeet Ali. He began harassing my daughter, insisting that he loved her. I had filed a complaint at the Kumaraswamy Layout Police Station and later approached the Banashankari Police. The police intervened and brought my daughter back to me,” she alleged.

Geetha further claimed that Sanjeet Ali had addicted her daughter to drugs.

“I got her treated at two or three rehabilitation centres, and she had recovered and was leading a healthy life. But now, Sanjeet Ali has killed my daughter,” she alleged.

According to Geetha, Surabhi had been working as a physiotherapist in Muddenahalli. On Saturday, she informed the family that she would be staying there to attend a satsang programme.

“He would repeatedly come looking for my daughter and continue to harass her. Cases have also been registered against him,” she alleged.

Meanwhile, police said Surabhi was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a homestay under the jurisdiction of the Nandi Police Station, while Sanjeet Ali was found unconscious inside the room and has been admitted to hospital for treatment.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the couple had been staying at the homestay for the past three days.

Investigators recovered a rope, several tablets, signs of vomiting and a pillow from the room.

However, police said there were no visible external injuries or blood-related injuries on the woman’s body, making it impossible at this stage to determine the exact cause of death.

Speaking to reporters, Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chowksi said all possible angles were being investigated.

“It is too early to conclude whether this is a case of murder or suicide. There are no visible external injuries on the woman’s body. We have recovered a rope, tablets and other material from the room. Poisoning is also one of the angles under investigation. The exact cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem examination and forensic analysis,” the SP said.

Police officials added that Sanjeet Ali is currently unconscious and that his statement will be recorded once his condition stabilises.

During the investigation, police learnt that Surabhi and Sanjeet Ali had been in a relationship for some time.

The couple had reportedly eloped in the past, following which her family lodged a missing person’s complaint.

She later returned to her family, and police said her parents had allegedly opposed the relationship.

Officials further stated that Surabhi had reportedly travelled to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus near Muddenahalli as a volunteer four to five days before the incident.

Investigators suspect that Sanjeet Ali learnt of her presence there, booked the homestay and that she later went there to meet him.

However, police said this sequence of events is still being verified.

Police are investigating multiple possibilities, including whether the woman was murdered before the accused attempted suicide, whether the couple had entered into a suicide pact, or whether poisoning resulted in the tragedy.

The investigation is continuing, and police said further action will depend on the post-mortem report, forensic evidence and Sanjeet Ali’s statement after he regains consciousness.

–IANS

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