Om Prakash, the former Director General of Police (DGP) of Karnataka, was found murdered at his home in HSR Layout, Southeast Bengaluru, on Sunday. The 68-year-old retired officer was discovered with multiple stab wounds. His wife, Pallavi Prakash, 65, has been detained in connection with the murder investigation.
According to a police complaint filed by his son, Kartik Prakash, 40, his father had been facing frequent threats and altercations from his wife and daughter, who are reportedly suffering from depression. Kartik claimed in his complaint that Om Prakash had moved out of his house to avoid the escalating domestic violence and threats from his wife, Pallavi, and his younger sister, Kriti.
Kartik, who was at the Karnataka Golf Association when he received the news of his father’s death, told the police that his mother had been threatening to kill his father for the past week. He stated that Om Prakash had sought refuge at his sister’s house in Bengaluru, but two days ago, his sister took him back home. Kartik suspects that his mother and sister may be responsible for his father’s death.
Vikash Kumar Vikash, Additional Commissioner of Police (West), confirmed that the incident was reported around 4:30 pm on Sunday, with a sharp weapon found near Om Prakash’s body. He added that three people were present in the house at the time of the incident.
Before the murder, Pallavi Prakash had reportedly sent a series of alarming messages to a social media forum for families of police officers, claiming that she and her daughter had been subjected to domestic violence by her husband. She further alleged that her husband’s weapons were highly sophisticated, and expressed fears about the safety of herself and her daughter.
“My son has got a revolver and rifles that should be seized or taken away immediately,” one of her messages read. “All these events are for the sake of property. Greed and jealousy. My husband is supporting my son and daughter-in-law,” she added.
Om Prakash, a 1981-cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, had a distinguished career in the Karnataka police force. He began as the additional superintendent of police in Ballari and held various significant positions, including the director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP) from 2015 until his retirement in 2017.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are piecing together the details of this tragic incident.