Mom tied up with maternity photo shoot at Bengaluru studio, 3-year-old slips into lake, drowns

BENGALURU: What began as a routine visit to a maternity photoshoot venue ended in grief for a woman from JP Nagar after her three-year-old boy drowned in a pond at a private studio in Giddenahalli, near Magadi Main Road, Saturday afternoon.

Lakshveer C had accompanied his mother, Swathi, who is seven months pregnant, to The Shire Studio, a location popular for maternity and pre-wedding shoots. Police said the incident occurred around 2.30pm.

Swathi had gone to the studio with a pregnant friend who had booked the venue for her photoshoot. Swathi's husband Charan Raj, a software engineer, had travelled to the US for work about a week earlier. Before leaving, Swathi informed him that she was headed for the shoot and took Lakshveer along.

According to investigators, Swathi was occupied with the photoshoot while the child was playing within the studio premises. The property has three small ponds. Police suspect Lakshveer may have wandered towards one of them and accidentally slipped into the water.


When Swathi could not find her son, she began searching the premises. He was later found in one of the ponds. Studio staff pulled him out and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Police said the pond had more than 2ft of water. Lakshveer, who was about 3ft tall, may have been unable to regain his footing, possibly getting stuck in the mud, they said.

A case of unnatural death has been registered at Madanayakanahalli police station based on a complaint filed by Swathi's father, Ramesh Babu. The complaint does not blame the studio management.

The child's body was handed over to the family after autopsy at Nelamangala govt hospital Sunday. Police said Raj has been informed and is returning to Bengaluru. Officers added that the grandparents were in shock and could not provide detailed statements. Swathi has sought time to appear before the police to record her statement.