Techie’s Chilling Crime: Bengaluru Murder Suspect Spends Night with Wife’s Body, Now In Pune Hospital

Bengaluru/Pune, 29th March 2025: In a shocking case that has sent ripples across the city, a 36-year-old man allegedly murdered his wife, attempted to pack her body into a suitcase, and later fled, only to be apprehended in Maharashtra. Investigators now believe the act was premeditated rather than a crime of passion.

The accused, Rakesh Rajendra Khedekar, reportedly tried to force his wife, Gouri Anil Sambrekar, 32, into a trolley suitcase while she was still alive. However, when the suitcase handle broke, he abandoned his initial plan. Instead, he moved the suitcase into the bathroom, positioning it near the drain to manage the blood flow.

Crime Unfolds in Their Bengaluru Apartment
Khedekar and his wife had moved to Bengaluru from Mumbai just a month ago. While he had secured a work-from-home job with a tech firm, Gouri was still seeking employment. On the night of the murder, Gouri had prepared dinner, and an argument erupted between the couple around 9 PM.

During the altercation, Rakesh allegedly slapped Gouri, prompting her to retaliate by throwing a kitchen knife at him, causing a minor injury. Enraged, he is believed to have grabbed the knife and stabbed her multiple times—twice in the neck and once in the abdomen.

“She struggled to defend herself, as evident from the nail marks on the accused’s body. He then gagged her, and as she bled, she started losing consciousness,” an investigating officer revealed. “Forensic evidence suggests that she was still alive when she was placed inside the suitcase.”

Experts found mucus traces at the crime scene—an indication that she had been breathing while being confined inside the suitcase. “If she had been dead before being placed inside, there would be no mucus discharge,” the officer added.

Failed Escape and Arrest in Maharashtra
After the murder, Rakesh reportedly attempted to drag the suitcase out of the house, but when the handle broke, he moved it to the bathroom instead. He then cleaned the crime scene, locked the house from the outside, and fled in his Honda City around 12:45 AM on Thursday. His initial plan was to drive to Mumbai and meet his parents.

On his way to Pune, he switched his phone back on and called his brother-in-law, Ganesh Anil Sambrekar, at around 4 PM. “I have killed Gouri,” he reportedly confessed before turning off his phone again. Ganesh immediately alerted the police in Maharashtra, who then coordinated with Bengaluru’s Hulimavu police station to track down the suspect.

Meanwhile, Rakesh contacted Prabhu Singh, a tenant in the building where he lived, falsely claiming that Gouri had died by suicide. Singh informed the landlord, who then notified the police.

Strange Behavior and Suicide Attempt
Authorities tracked Rakesh’s movements to Shirwal, about 50 km from Pune. When a police officer reached him via phone, he reportedly claimed to have spent the entire night “talking” to his wife’s body. However, CCTV footage confirmed that he had left the house around midnight.

During interrogation, he told officers that Gouri was “dominating” and had strained relations with his parents. He claimed she wanted to live separately, and after moving to Bengaluru, she had started blaming him for her difficulties in finding a job.

Rakesh’s father, Rajendra Khedkar, confirmed receiving a distressing call from his son on Thursday. “He told me about the incident and said he was planning to end his life. I urged him not to take such a drastic step and immediately informed the Meghwadi police in Mumbai,” Rajendra said.

Senior inspector Yashwant Nalawade of the Shirwal police revealed that after abandoning his wife’s body, Rakesh drove to Kagal, on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, where he purchased phenyl and a chemical substance. “He later consumed the chemical near Khambatki Ghat in an apparent suicide attempt,” Nalawade said.

A passing motorcyclist spotted Rakesh in distress and took him to a nearby hospital. “He narrated his crime and suicide attempt to the biker, who then alerted authorities,” the inspector added.

Medical Condition and Legal Proceedings
A constable at the hospital recognized the medico-legal nature of the case and informed the police. By this time, Bengaluru police had already tracked Khedekar’s location and alerted the Satara district police. He was later shifted to a private hospital in Katraj, Pune, before being taken to Sassoon Hospital for further treatment.

Dr. Yellapa Jadhav, Sassoon Hospital’s medical superintendent, confirmed that Khedekar was admitted on Friday morning. “He showed mild symptoms, including a burning sensation in the stomach and high acidity levels. His condition is stable, and he is currently in the general ward,” Dr. Jadhav stated.

Police are now preparing to take Rakesh into custody once he is discharged. Authorities believe his attempt to feign mental instability is a ploy to gain sympathy. “He is pretending to be disturbed, but his actions indicate otherwise. He knew exactly what he was doing,” an officer remarked.

Further investigations are underway as police piece together the exact sequence of events leading to the brutal crime.