Varicose vein treatment was a lie: Karnataka doctor kills uncle and aunt with ICU anaesthetic; steals gold to clear debt

SHIVAMOGGA: A debt-ridden doctor murdered his uncle and aunt using an anaesthetic drug — propofol, a scheduled drug, used for surgeries — in Shivamogga district on Monday in a bid to steal their gold ornaments and clear his loans. The twin murders came to light on Tuesday after the couple's son unsuccessfully tried to reach his parents on phone.

Dr GP Mallesh, who lives in Holehonnur, was arrested by the Shivamogga district cops on Wednesday on charges of murdering Chandranna, 78, and Jayamma, 75. The accused is the son of Chandranna's younger brother.


Propofol,which is not sold over the counter, is used primarily in operation theatres and ICUs under strict medical supervision.

An ayurvedic doctor by profession, Mallesh treated the elderly couple for years, police said. It is alleged he was in debt and asked his uncle for a loan of Rs 15 lakh. When Chandranna turned down the request, he allegedly hatched a plan to kill them at their house and take away valuables.

On Monday afternoon, Mallesh visited the couple in Bhutanagudi in Old Town of Bhadravathi taluk, about 20km from Shivamogga. Under the pretext of treating Chandrappa for varicose veins, he allegedly administered a lethal overdose of propofol, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to his death between 12.45pm and 1pm, police said. Later, he used the same method to kill his aunt and stole 80gm of gold jewellery from the house.

He pawned the ornaments, collected money and transferred Rs 50,000 to his account after settling some debts. He returned to Holehonnur, 15km from the industrial town of Bhadravathi.

The couple's son, GC Vishwanath, who lives in Davangere town, about 100km from Bhadravathi, tried to contact his parents on phone on Monday night. On Tuesday morning, a worried Vishwanath contacted his father's neighbours and asked them to check on his parents. They were found dead, police said quoting the neighbours.

The final rites of the couple were held on Tuesday evening.

According to police, Vishwanath later called up his cousin and family doctor, Mallesh, and informed him about the death of his parents. The accused told him he met them at their house on Monday afternoon and they looked healthy. But he did not visit the house of the deceased on Tuesday afternoon, which led to suspicion.

Following a complaint by Vishwanath, cops nabbed the accused on Wednesday morning and questioned him, according to superintendent of police B Nikhil. The accused told the cops he allegedly administered a heavy dose of anaesthesia (propofol) and killed them. "We are probing where he got the drug from," the SP stated.

The couple has three sons. Mallesh is unmarried.