Wrongly jailed for wife's murder, Mysuru man freed after she's found alive with lover in Madikeri

Mysuru: In a shocking case of police negligence, a man who spent two years behind bars for allegedly murdering his wife has been proven innocent after the missing woman was found alive in Madikeri, living with her lover.

What happened?

Suresh, a resident of Basavanahalli village in Kushalnagar taluk, had filed a missing person complaint about his wife Mallige at the Kushalnagar police station in November 2020. Around the same time, an unidentified woman’s body was discovered in Bettadapura police station limits in Mysuru district.

Without waiting for conclusive evidence, the Bettadapura police determined the body to be that of Mallige and arrested Suresh on charges of murder. The court, relying on this identification, sentenced him to prison.

Twist in the tale

On April 1, Mallige was found alive in a hotel in Madikeri, living with her partner. Suresh informed the Kodagu police, who took her into custody and transferred her to the Kushalnagar police. His lawyer presented this dramatic development before the court.

Following this, the 5th JMFC Court in Mysuru ordered the SP, Kushalnagar police, and Mallige to appear in court. The authorities complied, and the court has now demanded a complete report by April 17.

DNA report ignored

A DNA test had been conducted comparing the body found in Bettadapura and Mallige’s mother. However, the charge sheet was filed before the DNA report arrived. The lab later confirmed that the body did not match Mallige’s maternal DNA. This played a crucial role in securing bail for Suresh.

“I was beaten for a crime I didn’t commit”

“They beat me, insulted me, and punished me for a crime I never committed,” said Suresh. “Even my children’s education suffered. I don’t wish this pain on anyone. I only hope the police don’t repeat such mistakes in the future.”