Kerala family seeks probe into techie daughter's death in Bengaluru ​

​“It was her husband’s birthday. During our routine morning call, she spoke about preparing the meal and baking a cake. She sounded happy and was even planning a trip with friends. The next thing we heard was that she was no more,” said S Venugopal Nair, father of Karthika V Nair, who was found dead in her Bengaluru flat in February.

Venugopal, a native of Anchal in Kollam, said he and his wife, Indirakumari, were left shattered by the sudden loss of their 35-year-old daughter. The family could not initially comprehend what led to her death, as they were unaware of any distress in her life. “She was very active and affectionate. She managed work, home and her child with ease and was always engaged with everyone,” he said.

Karthika was found dead at her second-floor apartment at Gollahalli on the evening of February 20. According to the postmortem report, her death was due to asphyxia as a result of hanging. The family rushed to Bengaluru after being informed by one of her friends. The body was later brought to Anchal, where the funeral was held on February 23.

Karthika got married to a native of Thiruvananthapuram in 2017, after the two met during their BTech studies in Electronics Engineering at Sarabhai Institute of Science and Technology. She later completed her MTech from Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology and briefly worked as a guest lecturer before moving to Bengaluru with her husband. There, she built a career in the IT sector and was recognised for her performance with awards and promotions. The couple’s daughter was born in 2021.

“My wife and I stayed with Karthika in Bengaluru for an extended period, especially during her pregnancy and while her husband was in Mexico for two years for work. We helped raise the child and were closely involved in their daily life. There were no visible issues between them to our knowledge. The couple lived in a predominantly Malayali neighbourhood, where Karthika was socially active and well-liked,” said Venugopal.

“We returned to Kerala last October after I developed health issues and began treatment in Thiruvananthapuram. Even then, she was the one who made all the arrangements for my treatment. There was nothing to suggest any serious problem in her life,” he added.

However, the family’s concerns grew after her death. They now suspect that there may have been issues between Karthika and her husband that might have led to her death. “After her death, he cut off all contact with us. He also filed a case seeking sole custody of their daughter. We have filed a counter-petition,” Venugopal said. 

Meanwhile, Karthika's in-laws said all such claims were false. Her husband, in an official communique to Onmanorama, also said the matter was currently under official investigation bearing UDR No. 20/2026 at Hebbagodi Police Station. “A postmortem examination and other forensic examinations have been conducted as part of this ongoing process. No conclusive findings have been established at this stage,” he said.

The family has now approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, apart from the state police chief, the Women’s Commission and the Child Welfare Committee, seeking a comprehensive investigation into Karthika’s death and clarity on the well-being of their granddaughter. “We are worried about the child’s safety and future. We also fear she may be taken abroad,” he said.

Venugopal added that he had supported his daughter financially at the time of her marriage, with gold over 100 sovereigns, a car and assistance in purchasing the Bengaluru flat. “She was a strong, capable woman who loved her life, her work and her family. We find it hard to believe she would take such a step without a reason. We want the truth,” he said, urging the Kerala government to intervene, citing the challenges of pursuing the case outside the state.