Murky twist to burnt body found in Hebbugodi

BANGALORE: The Hebbugodi police launched a massive search for Tulasi, 23, a garment factory employee believed to have been burnt alive by her husband's relatives.
The autopsy showed that the burnt body found on Sunday in a trunk at Tulasi's house was actually that of her neighbour Savitha. The police had handed over the body to Tulasi's husband Shivananda Reddy.
Tulasi and Shivananda Reddy from Andhra Pradesh had recently moved to Bangalore and lived in Hebbugodi.While Tulasi worked in a garment factory, Reddy was employed in a gas agency.
On Sunday evening, Reddy returned home from work to find a burnt body in a trunk. Reddy told the police he had a running feud with his relatives over some financial issues and suspected them of murdering Tulasi.
The episode took a different turn when the autopsy report stated the body belonged to a 13-year-old girl, not a 23-year-old woman. Around the same time, Reddy's neighbour lodged a complaint with the police that her daughter Savitha had been missing since Saturday evening. She identified the dress which the police found on the body as that of Savitha's.
Investigating officers say they were looking for Tulasi, who has been missing since Sunday. "Reddy's claim about a financial dispute doesn't hold water and we'll find Tulasi in a couple of days,'' said a police officer.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com