What began as a story of second chances ended in tragedy in the quiet lanes of Maragondanahalli in the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka. Reshma, a 35‑year‑old widow who rebuilt her life through a second marriage,
was found dead in her bathroom last week. Her husband, Prashanth Kumar, who had once promised her companionship, now stands accused of her murder.
A Widow’s Search for Stability
Reshma had lost her first husband nearly fifteen years ago. Left alone to raise her young daughter, she worked as a domestic help in and around Anekal to make ends meet. Friends describe her as soft‑spoken and determined, a woman who wanted a peaceful life and a better future for her child.
It was through social media that her story took a fateful turn. Around a year ago, Reshma met Prashanth Kumar on Instagram. The two began chatting, and over time, their online acquaintance turned into affection. Prashanth, who presented himself as caring and dependable, slowly became a daily presence in her life.
Their relationship deepened despite the difference in circumstances, she was a widow with a teenage daughter, he was a bachelor who promised her a fresh start. Nine months ago, they married quietly and began living together in Om Shakti Layout under the jurisdiction of Hebbagodi Police Station.
A Marriage Built on Doubt
Neighbours recall that Reshma and Prashanth appeared happy at first. But over time, fights became frequent. Police sources later confirmed that Prashanth had grown suspicious of Reshma’s character. His constant jealousy led to bitter quarrels. On the night of October 15, that suspicion spiralled into violence. During yet another argument, Prashanth strangled Reshma in a fit of rage.
After killing her, Prashanth tried to stage the scene as an accident. He placed Reshma’s body in the bathroom, turned on the water heater switch, and left the house, hoping it would appear she had been electrocuted. When Reshma’s daughter returned home from school later that evening, she found the main door ajar.
Inside, her mother was lying motionless on the bathroom floor. Panicked, the girl ran out to call neighbours, who rushed Reshma to a nearby private hospital but doctors could only declare her dead on arrival.
The Truth Unravels
Initially, even Reshma’s relatives believed it might have been an accident. But her sister Renuka grew suspicious when Prashanth gave inconsistent statements. When she called him after hearing of the incident, he claimed to be heading to his native place and said he knew nothing.
Yet minutes later, he arrived at the hospital pretending to grieve. Renuka’s doubts grew when her niece revealed that the bathroom door had been locked from the outside. This small but crucial detail changed everything.
Police Investigation and Confession
The Hebbagodi police, under the Electronic City subdivision, took Prashanth into custody for questioning. During interrogation, he confessed to killing Reshma after a heated argument. Investigators reconstructed the sequence of events, confirming that he had tried to disguise the murder as an electric shock. He was later arrested and sent to Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.
The murder has left the local community shocked. Reshma’s 15‑year‑old daughter, who had already lost her father years ago, now faces life without her mother. Neighbours have described her as quiet and withdrawn since the incident. “Reshma was trying to give her daughter a better life. She didn’t deserve this end,” said a local resident.
A Cautionary Tale of Trust and Vulnerability
Reshma’s story mirrors a troubling pattern of social‑media‑based relationships turning violent. Police say that while digital platforms can bring people together, they can also become a space where deception thrives. In this case, what began as a promise of love ended in suspicion and murder.
The Hebbagodi police continue to investigate, but one fact remains undeniable, a woman who once found hope through Instagram lost her life to the very man who had promised to protect it.
