Bengaluru villa double murder: US-returned techie who killed parents could be suffering from schizophrenia

• Retired navy officer and wife killed in Bengaluru villa
• Son Rohan Bhat arrested, suspected of mental health issues
• Police await psychiatric report to determine next steps

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The investigation into the killing of a retired merchant navy officer and his dentist wife inside an upscale villa community in east Bengaluru has taken a significant turn, with police suspecting that their son, the prime accused, may be suffering from serious mental health issues.

The accused, Rohan Bhat (33), a US-returned software engineer, was arrested by HAL police on Wednesday for allegedly stabbing his parents to death. Based on early investigations, police said he repeatedly stabbed his parents following heated arguments with them.

On Thursday, he was sent to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) for psychiatric assessment after doctors and investigators concluded that it was not appropriate to place him in police custody at this stage.

According to the police, a preliminary evaluation indicated that Rohan could be suffering from schizophrenia, a serious mental health condition marked by disturbed thinking, behaviour, and emotional responses.

The victims have been identified as Naveen Chandra, a former merchant navy captain, and his wife Shyamala, a practising dentist. The couple was found brutally attacked inside their villa in Vignan Nagar, near HAL Township, a well-guarded residential enclave in the city’s tech corridor.

The incident came to light around 7.30 am on Wednesday when neighbours heard loud noises and screams from the house. The couple was rushed to Manipal Hospital on Old Airport Road but was declared dead on arrival.

Based on a complaint filed by a neighbour, police arrested Rohan the same day.

What was the motive behind murder?

While circumstantial evidence points to Rohan’s involvement, police say the motive behind the crime remains unclear. Investigators say the accused has been giving contradictory statements during questioning.

“At one point, he said his father refused to give him Rs 4 lakh to fund a new project. Later, he claimed the argument was over changing his mobile number from the family plan. He keeps changing his version,” a police officer was quoted by TOI as saying.

Officers also noted that Rohan appeared to be experiencing mood swings and erratic behaviour, which led them to seek a psychiatric evaluation. Police have decided to continue questioning him after his younger sister arrives from the US.

Family background and strained ties

Police said Naveen and Shyamala originally hailed from Mangaluru. Due to Naveen’s career in the merchant navy, the family had lived in several cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, before settling in Bengaluru about six years ago.

Shyamala worked at Chinmaya Hospital in Indiranagar and also ran a small clinic from their villa. Rohan completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the US and worked with several technology companies before returning to Bengaluru in 2023.

According to investigators, Rohan told his parents that he was freelancing for tech firms. However, he allegedly had frequent disagreements with his father, though police say he was emotionally closer to his mother. Rohan had been living alone in a rented one-bedroom apartment in Varthur, claiming he needed solitude.

Events leading up to the killings

The couple had returned to Bengaluru on Monday night after a 10-day trip to Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Police said Rohan came to the villa to receive them after being informed by his mother.

According to Rohan’s statement, he again asked his father for financial support for his projects. The argument allegedly escalated early Wednesday morning when Naveen was preparing to go for a walk. Rohan claimed his father asked him to leave the house and allegedly struck him with the butt of an airgun.

Police investigations reveal that a kitchen knife was used in the attack. Rohan has claimed that he does not remember the sequence of events clearly.

Neighbour recounts horror

In her complaint, neighbour Dr Madhavi Nair said she received a call around 7.40 am asking her to attend to an emergency at the villa.

“When I reached, I saw Naveen lying in the garden with multiple stab wounds. Inside the house, Shyamala was lying on the floor and was unresponsive,” she told police.

She added that Rohan was inside the house and complained of being hit in the stomach. Dr Nair also told investigators that Shyamala had earlier mentioned that her son was undergoing treatment for psychiatric issues and was on medication.

Police said further investigation will depend on the psychiatric evaluation report and questioning of family members.