Betting Rage: Driver Stabs Wife 15 Times

A shocking incident unfolded on Sunday evening when a 38-year-old autorickshaw driver, Pradeep Kumar, fatally stabbed his wife, Manjula, 15 times. The horrific attack occurred in front of their two young children at Manjula's parents' residence in Bengaluru. The couple's children, a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son, were present during the violent assault. The daughter reportedly sustained injuries while attempting to intervene.

Pradeep Kumar had allegedly lost nearly Rs 8 lakh through online betting, a habit he claimed had ruined his family. Hours before the murder, he reportedly recorded selfie videos expressing his desperation and stating that he and his wife would soon die. Manjula, who was a home guard with the Mahadevapura police station, had been staying with her parents since June 11 following frequent marital disputes. The family alleged Pradeep harbored suspicions about her fidelity and the paternity of their children.

Manjula had decided to seek a divorce and had approached a lawyer, filing a petition on Saturday. Pradeep had visited the Mahadevapura police station on Sunday, seeking Manjula. She had previously filed complaints against him, and the couple had undergone counseling, being reunited on earlier occasions. After the stabbing, Pradeep fled to a lorry parking area and alerted the police about the murder and his own suicide attempt by slashing his hand. He was subsequently taken into custody from the lorry stand.