A six-year-old girl was allegedly killed after spilling ice cream inside a luxury car, according to Bengaluru police, who say a month’s long investigation uncovered a homicide that was initially presented as a medical emergency.
The case, which began with the child’s death at a villa in Bengaluru’s Seegehalli area on March 25, has now resulted in the arrest of her mother, Priyanka P, and her live-in partner, Mohan J Mahaningappa.
Police allege the pair attempted to conceal the circumstances of the death before forensic evidence and witness statements pointed investigators in a different direction.
Kadugodi police arrested Priyanka on Thursday in Hassan district. Mohan, a real estate businessman, had already been taken into custody. Both have been booked in connection with the murder.
According to investigators, the events leading to the child’s death unfolded during a car journey on the night of March 24. Police allege Mohan became enraged after the girl spilled ice cream inside his vehicle.
“During questioning, the accused revealed that Mohan became extremely angry after the child spilled ice cream inside his car. He allegedly struck the girl in the stomach with his elbow and later covered her mouth, leading to suffocation,” Kadugodi police inspector Govardhan said.
Police contend that he punched her in the abdomen and later strangled her when she began crying in pain.
The death was initially recorded as an unnatural death, and the circumstances surrounding it remained unclear for weeks. Police now allege that after the child died, Priyanka and Mohan spent nearly 12 hours with the body and drove around Bengaluru before reporting the death.
Officers say the pair sought to portray the incident as a sudden medical complication. “The accused initially tried to portray the incident as a sudden health complication. However, medical evidence, post-mortem findings and forensic examination contradicted their version. The investigation clearly indicated foul play,” Govardhan said.
The inquiry intensified after the child’s father, Praveen Basappa, filed a complaint on June 4 alleging that his daughter had been murdered.
According to the complaint, Praveen and Priyanka married in 2007 and have two daughters. He alleged that Priyanka resumed a relationship with her college friend Mohan in late 2025 and later moved to Bengaluru with the younger child after seeking a divorce. Their elder daughter remained with him in Davanagere.
Police said Mohan, who is married and has two children, had left his family and was living with Priyanka in an upscale villa in east Bengaluru. Investigators said he had purchased the property where Priyanka and the child were residing.
Investigators said they are examining whether the child had faced repeated abuse before her death. According to police, evidence gathered during the inquiry suggests she may have been subjected to mistreatment on multiple occasions.
