Bengaluru grindstone murders: Five of seven victims found, two bodies recovered in Mysuru

Bengaluru police recovered two more bodies on Sunday, November 8, in the murder of seven members of a family. The remains, suspected to be those of the accused man’s elder brother Shivakumar and his wife Divya, were found near Chamundi Hills in Mysuru.

Police took the accused, S Indushekhar (52), to the forest area between Tavarekatte and Chamundi Hills to identify the spot where he allegedly dumped the bodies. They were found around 500 metres apart.

With Sunday's recovery, five of the seven victims have been found. Indushekhar has been accused of killing his wife Sunitha, her mother Roopavati, her brothers Shivakumar and Shankar, their wives Divya and Nalini, and Shivakumar’s seven-year-old son Puneeth.

The bodies of Indushekhar's wife Sunitha (40) and mother-in-law Roopavathi were recovered from a forest in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday. The body of Puneeth was earlier found near the foothills of Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur district and has since been cremated.

The police said the bodies recovered in Mysuru would undergo postmortem examinations before being handed over to relatives. Around 15 personnel from the Bengaluru North division, led by DCP Babasab Nemagoud, took part in Sunday's search. Scene of Crime officers were also present to collect evidence.

Preliminary postmortem findings from the Mysuru recoveries indicate possible brain haemorrhage caused by head injuries. The bodies were wrapped in red bedsheets and were moderately decomposed, according to Deccan Herald. Photographs from the site showed that the victims' hands and legs had been tied. The detailed forensic reports are expected to establish the cause of death and whether the victims were sedated before being killed with a grindstone.

Indushekhar, a cab driver who also ran a YouTube channel, was arrested on November 5. Police allege that he killed seven members of his wife's family over a period of around 15 days, packed their bodies in gunny bags and transported them in his car before disposing of them at different locations. These include Nandi Hills, a forest in Salem, the foothills of Chamundi Hills and Shiradi Ghat.

The killings came to light after Nalini's mother lodged a complaint that her daughter was missing. Police suspect that frequent arguments between Indushekhar and Sunitha over her continued association with her parental family may have led to the murders. 

An 11-year-old boy, the son of Shankar and Nalini, is a key witness in the case. Police rescued him on November 5, when they suspected he could be Indushekhar's next target.

The boy allegedly witnessed the murders and told police and reporters that he heard his mother's screams. He also recalled being driven to places including Dharmasthala and Sringeri, and seeing bags being discarded along the way. When he asked Indushekhar about the bags, he was told they contained garbage.

The boy's account could form an important part of the prosecution's case, alongside forensic findings and other material evidence. 

Meanwhile, preliminary postmortem findings in the case indicate that Puneeth died of brain haemorrhage caused by four blunt-force injuries to his head, including injuries to his forehead and crown.