A 26-year-old physiotherapist was discovered dead under unexplained circumstances at a homestay in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district, while her boyfriend was found unconscious in the same room and admitted to a hospital, police said on Monday.
The deceased, Surabhi, was a Bengaluru resident. She was reportedly in a relationship with Sanjeet Ali, a man from Kerala. According to police sources, Surabhi’s family alleged that Ali introduced her to narcotic substances, leading to alcohol and drug dependency during their relationship. Sources also claimed that Ali frequently assaulted her and caused injuries to her private parts.
Police said Surabhi had informed her family of her intention to marry Ali, but her relatives opposed the relationship. The couple later eloped, prompting her family to file a missing person complaint. Surabhi subsequently returned and told authorities that, as an adult, she had the right to choose her partner, after which she began living with Ali.
Investigators noted that Surabhi had bruising beneath her eyes, which was allegedly linked to physical abuse by her boyfriend.
According to police, both Surabhi and Ali were previously booked under the NDPS Act after drugs were allegedly recovered during a party they attended. Sources said Surabhi’s family later intervened and admitted her to a rehabilitation centre in Mysuru, where she underwent treatment for alcohol and drug addiction for nearly six months. After completing rehabilitation, she returned to Bengaluru and began living with her mother.
Investigators are now examining how and why Surabhi reconnected with Ali despite allegations of abuse, drug-related issues and her family’s objections. Police believe Ali learnt that Surabhi had travelled to Chikkaballapur to volunteer at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus, came there from Kerala and booked a homestay where the two stayed together for three days before the incident.
Police said it was premature to conclude whether the death resulted from murder, suicide or poisoning, adding that the exact cause would only be known after post-mortem and forensic examinations.
Booking records indicate that the couple had been staying at the homestay for the previous three days. However, investigators are still working to establish the precise sequence of events leading to Surabhi’s death.
During the search of the room, police recovered a rope, numerous tablets, traces of vomit and a pillow. Investigators, however, found no visible external injuries or blood-related wounds on the victim’s body.
Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chowksi said that the absence of obvious external injuries made it difficult to determine whether the case involved suicide or homicide. He stated that only the post-mortem examination would reveal the actual cause of death.
Police Investigating Multiple Possibilities
Surabhi is believed to have arrived in Chikkaballapur four to five days earlier to volunteer at the SAI campus. Her family has confirmed this information, while police are verifying the details with SAI authorities.
Investigators are exploring several possibilities, including whether Ali killed Surabhi before attempting suicide, whether the two entered into a suicide pact, or whether poisoning played a role in the incident.
“We cannot yet determine whether this was a murder, poisoning or suicide. A rope was found in the room, so every possibility remains under investigation. Poisoning is also being considered, especially since the man is currently receiving medical treatment,” SP Chowksi said.
Police added that Ali is believed to be unemployed and has no known criminal history apart from the NDPS case registered against him and Surabhi. Investigators said his statement could be crucial in establishing what happened once he regains consciousness.
