Chikkaballapur: A 24-year-old Hindu woman from Bengaluru was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a homestay near Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapur district on June 29, triggering allegations of “love jihad” from her family even as police said they are investigating every possible angle and have not reached any conclusion on the cause of death.
The deceased has been identified as Sai Surabhi, while her alleged boyfriend, Sanjeeth Ali, a cab driver from Kozhikode, Kerala, was found unconscious inside the room and has been admitted to hospital. Police said his statement will be crucial in determining the sequence of events leading to the woman’s death.
According to police, Surabhi and Sanjeeth Ali had checked into a homestay near Muddenahalli on June 27. The incident came to light on Monday after the checkout time had elapsed and repeated attempts by the caretaker to contact the occupants went unanswered. Suspecting something was amiss, the caretaker opened the room and found Surabhi dead, while Sanjeeth Ali was lying unconscious.
Senior police officers, including Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chowksi, visited the spot and began an investigation. A case has been registered at the Nandi Giridhama Police Station.
Police examining suicide and homicide angles
Investigators said Surabhi’s body was found hanging inside the room. However, the rope had been cut by the time police reached the scene. Officials also recovered certain tablets from the room, raising the possibility that poison may have been consumed before the incident.
A diary recovered from the room is also being examined as part of the investigation. Police are analysing its contents to determine whether it contains any clues regarding the circumstances leading to the woman’s death.
SP Kushal Chowksi said it was too early to conclude whether the case involved murder, suicide, or a suicide pact.
“We can ascertain the exact sequence of events only after Sanjeeth Ali regains consciousness and his statement is recorded. At present, all possible angles are being investigated,” the SP said.
Family alleges ‘love jihad’
The case took a dramatic turn after Surabhi’s mother, Geetha, broke down before the media and alleged that her daughter had been murdered as part of a “love jihad” conspiracy.
Claiming that Sanjeeth Ali had systematically manipulated and exploited her daughter over the past few years, Geetha alleged that he had first befriended Surabhi while she was studying at Dayananda Sagar College in Bengaluru.
According to her, the friendship later developed into a relationship, after which Sanjeeth allegedly began harassing Surabhi and refusing to leave her alone.
“My daughter knew him through friends while she was in college. Even after we shifted her to another institution to keep her away from him, he tracked her down and continued disturbing her. He completely influenced her life. He even made her addicted to drugs. We spent a lot of money on treatment and finally helped her recover. She had become healthy and was leading a normal life again,” Geetha alleged.
The grieving mother further claimed that Surabhi had recently started working as a physiotherapist in Muddenahalli and had informed the family that she would be staying there on Saturday to attend a spiritual gathering.
“She told us she was attending a satsang. But Sanjeeth once again contacted her and took her to the homestay. He planned everything and murdered my daughter. This is not a suicide. This is a case of love jihad, and the accused must be given the strictest punishment,” she alleged.
Relative alleges police ignored earlier complaint
Surabhi’s uncle, Shankaranarayana, also accused the police of failing to act despite previous complaints against Sanjeeth Ali.
“We had already approached the police against him. Had timely action been taken, Surabhi would have been alive today,” he alleged while speaking to the media.
The family claimed that Sanjeeth had repeatedly attempted to contact Surabhi despite their objections and that they had raised concerns with the authorities earlier.
Missing case registered last year
Police records show that Surabhi had gone missing last year, following which her family filed a missing person complaint at Banashankari Police Station in Bengaluru.
She was later traced to a friend’s house and reunited with her family. Investigators are now examining whether that earlier episode has any connection with the present case.
Investigation continues
Police have sent Surabhi’s body for post-mortem examination and are awaiting forensic and medical reports. Investigators are also analysing electronic devices, call records and CCTV footage collected from the homestay and surrounding areas.
While the victim’s family has alleged that the death is a case of “love jihad” and murder, police launched investigation and maintain that the investigation is at a preliminary stage. Officials said the exact cause of death and the role, if any, of Sanjeeth Ali will become clear only after scientific evidence is examined and his statement is recorded.
