‘Struggled for 15 minutes before last breath’: Chilli powder blinded him, 12 stab wounds killed ex-Karnataka DGP Om Prakash | Bengaluru News

BENGALURU: Former DG&IGP Om Prakash had ordered fish fry online for Sunday lunch. He served two fish on his plate with rice and was having food between 2.30pm and 3pm at the dining table.
Prakash had finished eating one fish and half the rice when his wife, Pallavi, 64, allegedly threw chilli powder on his face and attacked him with a kitchen knife. She initially stabbed him in the neck and later hit him with a bottle of oil, police sources said, citing Pallavi’s statement and findings from the crime scene.
Prakash was found murdered in his HSR Layout house Sunday evening, and 24 hours later, police arrested Pallavi on charges of killing him.
According to sources, Prakash is suspected to have struggled lying on the floor for over 15 minutes before breathing his last. Two bottles — one of a toilet cleaner and another of floor cleaner — were found next to his body. Prakash is said to have attempted running out of the house as Pallavi attacked him, but she threw a blanket on his face and pushed him to the ground. She allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the neck, shoulder, abdomen, and back as Prakash pleaded with her to spare him.
Pallavi stood next to Prakash who lay face down, his head wrapped in the blanket. He was wearing a lungi, banian (undershirt), and slippers. His lungi and banian were soaked in blood by the time a police team reached the spot, a senior officer said.
There is suspicion that Kriti, the couple’s daughter, was present on the same floor during the murder, but that is yet to be established. “When our team reached the spot, she was in her house on the third floor,” the officer added.
Killed monster, Pallavi tells friend
“After killing Prakash, Pallavi texted one of her friends, the wife of a retired IPS officer, stating she had killed the monster,” the officer said. Pallavi then made a WhatsApp video call to the retired officer’s wife and showed Prakash lying in a pool of blood.
Pallavi also called two others and informed them of the incident. One of them alerted police helpline 112. But before Hoysala police arrived at the spot, Pallavi herself had called HSR Layout police and informed them about the murder.
After she was arrested Monday evening, the retired IPS officer’s wife was called to HSR Layout police station to share some information. DCP (south-east) Sarah Fathima spoke to the officer’s wife, but her statement was not recorded, sources said.
She wanted FIR against Prakash
Another senior police officer said a few days ago, Pallavi sent a message in the IPS officers’ WhatsApp group requesting that a suo-motu case be registered and action taken against her husband. “This is a distress call from Pallavi Omprakash. And online FIR from me. Please take SUO. MOTO. Cognizance and SUO motor ACTION. Me and my daughter have been under severe domestic violence at the hands of my husband Omprakash, Ex DGP Karnataka (sic),” the officer quoted Pallavi’s message as saying.
Pallavi claimed he was lacing her food with insulin and sanitiser. “Now, he has started drugging my daughter, targeting her brain just because she started raising her voice. My daughter is dying every day. We are in a very precarious, dangerous, unsafe situation and need urgent help and security. My daughter’s phone, laptop and all digital devices have been hacked or made dysfunctional. We need urgent security. As for proof, there is no dearth.”
“My husband tries to cover up his acts by declaring people as mentally unstable as and when required… All these events are for the sake of property greed and jealousy. My husband is supporting my son and daughter-in-law. Greed. Lust for money corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely…,” her message read.
Property angle being probed
Probe is on into multiple angles, including the property feud between the couple. A majority of Prakash’s properties are in Uttara Kannada district. Prakash was superintendent of police, Uttara Kannada, in the early 1990s.
Family sources told police Prakash had purchased a few acres of land in Joida during 2011-12. He has a farmhouse on a five-acre land. Pallavi alleged that Prakash was not giving any property to her or her daughter, police sources said.
Daughter taken to hosp
Kriti didn’t open her third-floor house door for police Sunday; they had to force it open. She refused to go with police and is said to have created a ruckus. According to police sources, she kept on telling them not to touch her. She also is said to have resisted giving her fingerprints, relenting only after much cajoling. After questioning, Kriti was taken to hospital for evaluation, a senior police officer said.