Man who chopped Bengaluru woman’s body claims self-defence in death note

A death note recovered from the accused in the brutal killing of a woman, whose dismembered body was found in a refrigerator in Bengaluru, claimed that he acted in self-defence.
The body of Mahalakshmi was found chopped into 59 pieces and stuffed into a fridge in a flat in Bengaluru’s Vyalikaval area. The accused, 30-year-old Mukti Ranjan Rai, was later found hanging from a tree in Odisha’s Bhadrak district on September 25. His body was recovered 4 days after Mahalakshmi’s dismembered body was found.
In his death note, Rai claimed that Mahalakshmi had earlier planned to kill him and even intended to dispose of his body in a suitcase. In response, he acted in order to protect himself and killed her by strangulation.
According to police sources, Rai killed Mahalakshmi at her home. The following day, he returned with a machete and dismembered her body. He then stored the pieces in the refrigerator and cleaned the house.
The police stated that they have not yet recovered the weapon, but the woman who sold the machete has identified the the person who purchased it from her.
According to a statement by the Bengaluru Police, Mahalaxmi and Rai worked at a mall in Bengaluru and became friends. 29-year-old Mahalakshmi was married but was staying separately. They then entered into a relationship. However, Mahalakshmi allegedly pressured Rai to marry her and the issue led to constant arguments between them.
Police sources also said that after killing Mahalakshmi, Rai went to his home in Odisha, after almost three years, and confessed to the crime before his mother. Rai cried before his mother and told her that he had killed Mahalakshmi.
He also said that he spent a lot of money on Mahalakshmi, but her behaviour was not good towards him.
Police said, “Mahalakshmi was allegedly pressuring Rai to marry her. Ranjan, who was short-tempered, killed Mahalakshmi and cut her body into pieces”.
According to the police investigation, Mahalakshmi was murdered between September 2-3. Her body was found by her mother on September 21.