Karnataka Man Serves Jail Term For 1.5 Years In Wife's 'Murder' — 'She Turns Up Alive 4 Years Later'
The case took a turn on April 1, when a friend of Suresh—who also happens to be a witness in the case—spotted Mallige alive and dining with another man at a hotel in Madikeri.
In a twist to a case once believed to be a murder, a woman presumed dead for over three years has been found alive during her visit to a hotel. Following this, Mysuru court has taken serious note of investigative lapses and demanded accountability from local police.
Woman Who Goes Missing, Found 3 Years Later
The woman, Mallige, vanished in 2020 from Kushalnagar in Karnataka's Kodagu district. Her husband, Suresh, reported her missing, but the case took a grim turn when police discovered skeletal remains in Bettadarapura and, without conclusive evidence, declared them to be Mallige's. Suresh was arrested and spent more than 18 months behind bars for her alleged murder.
This narrative was upended on April 1, when a friend of Suresh—who also happens to be a witness in the case—spotted Mallige alive and dining with another man at a hotel in Madikeri. Authorities were informed, and Mallige was produced before the court shortly after.
Court Takes 'Serious Note'
The court, deeply concerned by the police's handling of the case, has directed the Superintendent of Police to submit a comprehensive report by April 17. The investigation is now under intense scrutiny, particularly due to apparent missteps, including the filing of a charge sheet before receiving DNA test results, which later revealed a mismatch between the remains and Mallige’s family.
Suresh's advocate, Pandu Poojari said, as per PTI, "Suresh, who is from a village in Kushalnagar, had lodged a complaint in 2020 at the Kushalnagar Rural Police Station regarding his wife's disappearance. Around the same time, a skeleton was found within the Bettadarapura police station limits. A year later, Bettadarapura police arrested Suresh, alleging that he had killed his wife over an illicit affair. A case was registered against him."
"Now, she was then presented in court. When questioned, she admitted to eloping and marrying another man. She said she was unaware of what had happened to Suresh. She had been living in a village named Shettyhalli, just 25–30 km from Madikeri, but police made no effort to trace her," he added.
“This case raises serious questions,” Poojari said adding, “Whose skeleton was it, and why did the police file a false charge sheet?"
Meanwhile, at the time when Suresh was imprisoned, his son reportedly discontinued his schooling after he failed in one subject in Class 10 exams. Later, he began working to support his sister's education, reported The New Indian Express.
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