Bhubaneswar, Sept 25: The prime suspect, Mukti Ranjan Ray, who was believed to be on the run after allegedly murdering Mahalakshmi in Bengaluru, has reportedly died by suicide in Bhadrak district, Odisha.
The gruesome details of Mahalakshmi's murder, where her body was discovered in 59 pieces inside a refrigerator, sent shockwaves through Bengaluru.
According to reports, Ray's body was found hanging from a tree in a village under Dhusuri Police Station's jurisdiction, and the police found a suicide note in which Ray confessed to the crime.
This note led Bengaluru police to confirm that he was indeed the main suspect in the case.
Mahalakshmi, a 29-year-old saleswoman, had been missing since September 1, and her horrific fate was uncovered on September 21 when her family found her remains in her apartment. Ray, her colleague, reportedly had grievances over her relationship with another man, and this might have been the motive for the crime.
The investigation is still ongoing to confirm all aspects, including toxicology reports to determine if Mahalakshmi was poisoned before her death, and forensic examinations of evidence from the scene.
This case has captured widespread attention due to its brutal nature and the tragic loss of two lives.
It is pertinent to mention that on Wednesday morning, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that four police teams have been sent to Odisha to nab the Mahalaxmi murder case accused.
Mahalaxmi was murdered, her body was chopped into more than 59 pieces and stuffed in a fridge.