Former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash’s Wife Arrested for Murder; Daughter Also Named in FIR

One day after the murder of former Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash, Bengaluru’s HSR Layout police arrested his wife, Pallavi, on Monday, April 21, 2025.

FIR Lists Wife and Daughter as Suspects

The first information report (FIR), based on a complaint by Om Prakash’s son, Karthikesh, 38, names both Pallavi and his sister Kruthi as suspects. They have been charged under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, for murder.

While Pallavi has been arrested due to substantial evidence, the police are still investigating Kruthi’s possible involvement. Though not arrested yet, Kruthi was detained and questioned on Monday.

Crime Scene and Custody

Pallavi was taken to the crime scene on Monday for a mahazar (spot inspection). She was then produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has taken over the investigation.

Domestic Dispute Turned Fatal

Preliminary findings indicate that the incident occurred during an argument between Om Prakash and Pallavi over lunch at their HSR Layout home.

The quarrel escalated, leading to Pallavi allegedly stabbing him multiple times with a kitchen knife and breaking a glass bottle on him.

After the incident, Pallavi reportedly called the wife of another retired IPS officer and said she had “finally killed the monster.” This friend then alerted the authorities.

Son’s Allegations

In his police complaint, Karthikesh alleged that both his mother and sister suffered from depression and regularly quarreled with his father. He expressed suspicion that both might be responsible for his father’s murder.

He also revealed that Om Prakash had been staying at his sister Saritha Kumari’s house over the past week due to Pallavi’s death threats.

According to the complaint, Kruthi visited Saritha’s home on April 18 and convinced her father to return home.

Discovery of the Crime

On April 20, while Karthikesh was at work in Domlur, a neighbor informed him of his father’s murder. Upon reaching the house, he found his father dead, with knives and a broken bottle nearby. Police had already arrived at the scene.

Previous Violence and Mental Health Concerns

Investigators found that Pallavi had previously assaulted Om Prakash, once hitting him with a stone and causing a head injury.

She had a documented history of schizophrenia and other mental health issues. Sources revealed she had caused disturbances at the IPS Officers’ Quarters Residential Complex, including entering neighbors’ homes and shouting abuses.

Chilli Powder, Tying, and Stabbing

Police investigations suggest that after Om Prakash returned home, an argument broke out—possibly over property matters. Pallavi allegedly threw chilli powder at him, tied him to a chair, and stabbed him to death.

She then made a video call to a retired IPS officer’s wife, telling her she had killed the “monster.” This triggered the alert to authorities, who rushed to the scene.

Daughter’s Role Under Scrutiny

Both Pallavi and Kruthi were detained on Sunday evening. Police are still probing whether Kruthi had a role in the murder.

In the FIR, Karthikesh stated, “My mother, Mrs. Pallavi, had been threatening to kill my father, Mr. Omprakash (Retired DGP and IGP), for the past week. Due to these threats, my father had gone to stay at the residence of his sister, Ms. Saritha Kumari. Two days ago, my younger sister Kruthi went to Ms. Saritha Kumari’s house and pressured my father, Mr. Omprakash, to return home. She brought him back against his will.”

He also said he received a call from a neighbor informing him of the incident, and upon reaching home at around 5:45 pm, he found the police and members of the public at the scene.

“My father was lying in a pool of blood with injuries to his head and body. A broken bottle and a knife were found next to his body. He was then taken to St. John’s Hospital,” he wrote in his statement.

History of Mental Illness

According to family members, Pallavi had been battling schizophrenia for 12 years and was undergoing treatment. She often expressed irrational fears and showed signs of delusional thinking.

Several months ago, she had gone to the HSR Layout police station to file a complaint. When the officers refused to register it, she staged a sit-in protest in front of the station, according to PTI.

Funeral Held in Bengaluru

Om Prakash’s funeral took place at the Wilson Garden electric crematorium on Monday.

The former top cop’s murder has sent shockwaves through the police community and sparked discussions about mental health, domestic abuse, and family conflict within law enforcement families.