Mom’s friend: I hit Vennela in belly over spilled ice cream

Bengaluru: The mystery surrounding the death of six-year-old P Vennela in March has been solved, with a chilling confession from the prime accused. Mohan GN, the live-in partner of the girl's mother and key suspect, reportedly confessed to police he hit the girl in the stomach when she spilled ice cream in their car and force-shut her mouth to muffle her cries. The twin unintended acts in quick succession led to the girl's death, police said quoting from his confession.Vennela was the daughter of Praveen, an educationist from Davanagere, and Priyanka, an advocate. The couple recently separated after Priyanka reconnected with her college friend, Mohan, and they started living at a luxury address in east Bengaluru.Mohan, a realtor, is currently in 10-day police custody. Priyanka is still elusive.On March 24, Mohan and Priyanka, along with Vennela, visited shops and eateries in and around Indiranagar, Bengaluru. Late night, the trio drove towards the outskirts in their multiutility vehicle (MUV), stopping for a dinner of biryani and ice cream at Hoskote.It was while returning from Hoskote that the child accidentally spilled her dessert, triggering an assault inside the vehicle, an investigating officer said.Police are putting the MUV through advanced forensic testing to corroborate Mohan's confession with physical evidence. The forensic report is awaited.Following a complaint from Vennela's father Praveen accusing Mohan and Priyanka of murdering the girl on March 24, Mohan was arrested on June 4. Praveen lives in Davanagere with his elder daughter. During interrogation, the accused spilled beans on the tragedy that unfolded inside the MUV. "Vennela spilled her ice cream all over the seat and on the foot mat. She was crying for a different cone. In a fit of rage, I hit her on the stomach with my elbow and tight-shut her mouth when she started crying loudly," Mohan reportedly told the investigators.The histopathology report indicated internal injuries in Vennela's abdomen area. TOI highlighted these findings in its report on June 8.An officer said a combination of severe internal injuries and smothering led to the child's untimely death.Investigations exposed a web of strained relationships behind the crime. Mohan is already married and has two children. However, he abandoned his family and moved into a luxury villa with Priyanka in Jan.In his complaint, Praveen alleged Priyanka met Mohan in Nov 2025 and claimed he was her ‘old lover'. In Jan, Priyanka allegedly forced Praveen to sign divorce papers, the complaint said.Police learnt Mohan's legal wife tracked down the duo and engaged in a bitter public altercation with Priyanka earlier this year. Priyanaka and Mohan went on a trip to Madurai and neighbouring towns from March 21 to 24 before taking Vennela on a day's outing that ended in tragedy.