Karnataka Businessman Ends Life After Killing Family, Blames Free Bus Ride Scheme In Suicide Note
Karnataka Businessman Ends Life After Killing Family, Blames Free Bus Ride Scheme In Suicide Note Reported By:,, Edited By Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 15:57
Karnataka Businessman Ends Life After Killing Family, Blames Free Bus Ride Scheme In Suicide Note Reported By:,, Edited By Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 15:57 IST In a suicide note, Prabhakar claimed that his business suffered significantly after the launch of Karnataka's Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel to women. Rapid Read Prabhakar (right), owned a readymade garments store, Kamadhenu Kalpavruksha, in Mandya. A 65-year-old businessman from Karnataka’s Mandya allegedly killed his wife and son before dying by suicide, with a note recovered by police claiming that mounting debt and declining business had pushed him into severe financial distress. The deceased, identified as Prabhakar, owned a readymade garments store, Kamadhenu Kalpavruksha, in Mandya. According to police, he allegedly strangled his 55-year-old wife, Jyothi, using a dhoti at around 3.30 am on June 9. When his 30-year-old son, J.P. Santosh, reportedly tried to intervene, he too was killed. Police said Prabhakar then locked the house, walked to his shop located a short distance away and hanged himself. The incident has sent shockwaves across Mandya and sparked discussions over the financial challenges faced by small traders.
According to investigators, Prabhakar’s family once jointly operated the well-known Kamadhenu Vastralaya in Mandya. About five years ago, the family business was divided, following which Prabhakar started his own venture, Kamadhenu Kalpavruksha. He had reportedly taken loans from banks and private financiers to establish and run the business. In a suicide note, Prabhakar claimed that his business suffered significantly after the launch of Karnataka’s Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel to women. He alleged that declining sales and mounting debt had left him financially overwhelmed. The note stated that easier and more affordable travel encouraged women shoppers from Mandya to visit larger commercial hubs such as Mysuru and Bengaluru, located roughly one to one-and-a-half hours away, where they had access to wider shopping options and bigger retail markets. Police are investigating the claims made in the note and examining all circumstances that may have contributed to the tragedy. Prabhakar’s son Santosh had married 27-year-old Meghana barely six weeks ago. Meghana, who was sleeping in another room at the time of the incident, told police she had not heard any disturbance during the night.
Speaking to News18 Kannada, Meghana said she and her husband had gone to sleep together the previous night and that she was unaware of when he left the room. According to her statement, she woke up around 6 am, prepared vegetables for breakfast and then went to wake her mother-in-law. Upon entering the room, she found her husband’s body slumped behind the door and discovered that her mother-in-law was unresponsive. She immediately alerted neighbours. Investigators are also trying to determine how Prabhakar was able to overpower both his wife and his adult son. Prabhakar’s elder brother, Venkatramu, who lives in Kollegal, said he believes financial pressures may have played a role in the incident. “I had recently visited him to invite him to a family function. I told him to let me know if he needed any help, but he always said there was no need. The expenses from his son’s wedding may have added to the burden. We spoke for nine minutes a few days ago, but he never mentioned any problems," Venkatramu told News18 Kannada.
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