Bengaluru Mother Arrested for Daughter's Murder After Ice Cream Dispute

BENGALURU: Priyanka (44), an advocate, who was on the run in connection with the murder of her five-and-a-half-year-old daughter, was arrested by the Kadugodi police on Thursday. Her live-in partner, Mohan G Mahalingappa (40), a real estate developer, has alleged that they assaulted the child after she demanded another flavor of ice cream while they were in the car. Later, they covered her mouth while she was crying, which led to her death.

The accused, Priyanka and Mohan, were living with the victim, P Vennela, who was staying with her mother. Priyanka and her legal husband, Praveen, a private school owner in Davanagere, had recently separated. Their elder daughter is currently staying with Praveen.

A police officer informed that Priyanka had been absconding since an FIR was registered against her. She was apprehended near Sakleshpur in Hassan district and brought back to Bengaluru. After being produced before a court, she was remanded in police custody for five days for further investigation.

Priyanka had gone to great lengths to avoid detection. She stopped using her phone and bank cards and was staying at a farmhouse owned by a friend of Mohan. This made it difficult for the police to track her down, but they eventually succeeded with the help of local intelligence and community support.

Mohan, who was already in 10 days of police custody, revealed that on the night of March 24, while Priyanka was shopping near Indiranagar, he was in the car with Vennela. The incident began when Vennela asked for a different flavor of ice cream, which apparently triggered the violent response. The details of the assault and the subsequent cover-up have sent shockwaves through the community, raising serious concerns about child protection and domestic violence.

The police are now focusing on gathering more evidence and testimonies to build a strong case against the accused. The community and child welfare organizations have also stepped up to ensure that such incidents are prevented in the future. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of reporting any suspicious behavior and the need for stricter laws to protect children from abuse and violence.