Bengaluru Fridge Murder Case: Who Is Ashraf, The Alleged Lover Linked To Mahalakshmi's Death?

As the investigation intensifies into the murder of 29-year-old Bengaluru woman Mahalakshmi, whose dismembered body was discovered in a refrigerator in her apartment, her estranged husband, Hemant Das, has come forward with claims about her alleged affair and suggested that her lover may be involved in her death.

According to an India Today report, Das alleged that Mahalakshmi was involved with a man named Ashraf, who hails from Uttarakhand, and that he could be linked to her murder.

"I suspect a man named Ashraf. I filed a complaint against him at the Nelamangala police station previously. After that complaint, it was mandated that he must not enter Bengaluru. However, I don't know where else they might have gone," Das stated.

Das explained that he had lodged a case against Ashraf a few months ago after learning of the extramarital affair.

Who is Ashraf, the Alleged Lover?

Das described Ashraf as a barber and revealed that he learned about the affair in April or May 2023.

"We filed a complaint because I was aware of the affair. It was not merely a suspicion; I knew it. Mahalakshmi hadn't informed me about anything regarding Ashraf. I wasn't in regular contact with her," he added.

Das, who works at a mobile phone shop, noted that he had not seen Mahalakshmi for about 25-30 days, with their last encounter occurring when she visited him at the shop.

Mahalakshmi's Previous Complaint Against Das

According to a police officer from the Nelamangala Police station, Mahalakshmi had filed a complaint against Das in February, alleging that he had assaulted her.

The gruesome nature of Mahalakshmi's murder mirrors the shocking case of 27-year-old Shraddha Walkar, who was allegedly killed by her live-in partner, Aftab Poonawala, in Delhi's Mehrauli in May 2022. Walkar was reportedly strangled and then dismembered, with her remains stored in a refrigerator for nearly three weeks before being disposed of in various locations.

Prime Suspect Identified

On September 23, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda announced that authorities have identified the prime suspect in Mahalakshmi's murder and are working to apprehend him.

"He's an outsider, and we can't disclose more information at this time, as it may compromise the investigation," the commissioner stated.

Prior to the police commissioner's briefing, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara mentioned that authorities suspect a man reportedly from West Bengal may be behind the murder but emphasized that additional evidence is required to confirm his involvement.