The estranged husband of the 29-year-old woman, whose body was chopped into 50 pieces and stored in a refrigerator, has claimed that she had an affair with a man who worked in a salon. Mahalaxmi's husband Hemant Das further alleged that her lover could be involved in the murder.
Das said a complaint was also filed against the lover, identified as Ashraf, at a local police station in Bengaluru a few months ago.
"I filed a complaint against him at the Nelamangala police station once. Post the complaint, it was mandated that he must not come to Bengaluru. But I don't know where else they went," Das was quoted as saying by India Today.
Maggot-Infested Body Of Mahalakshmi Was Found By Mother
The maggot-infested body of Mahalakshmi was discovered by her mother and elder sister at her home on Saturday. On Monday, the police said they have identified the prime suspect in the case.
"It is being investigated from all angles. The prime suspect has been identified and efforts are underway to arrest him," B Dayananda said at a press conference. "He's an outsider. We can't give more information as of now as it may help the accused," the police commissioner had said.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, while talking to reporters, said the police have collected "a lot" of information in connection with the case.
"The police have collected a lot of information, a lot of clues. One individual is also been...kind of they say he is the one. Unless we collect more information we can't really say. He is from West Bengal they say," he said. The state minister added, "We have already taken a lot of precautions for women's safety in Bengaluru...We are very careful about it..."