In a shocking turn of events that has rattled Karnataka&rsquo;s law enforcement community, former Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash was found dead at his residence in Bengaluru&rsquo;s upscale HSR Layout on Sunday evening, under what police describe as&nbsp;&ldquo;highly suspicious circumstances.&rdquo;
Senior officers cordoned off the villa where the 1981-batch IPS officer lived post-retirement. Crime scene tape now blocks access to the main entrance, and forensic teams were seen combing through every inch of the property, while anxious neighbours stood by in disbelief.
Speaking from the location, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayanand confirmed the death and hinted at a possible homicide. &ldquo;Around 4 to 4:30 pm, we received information about the death of former DGP and IGP Om Prakash. His body was discovered in a pool of blood. It appears that a sharp weapon was used. He lost a significant amount of blood, which likely led to his death,&rdquo; he stated.
The murder weapon, however, had not yet been recovered at the time of filing this report.
The former top cop&rsquo;s wife, Pallavi, was present in the house at the time of the incident and is currently being questioned by police. Sources on-site say she was the one who first alerted authorities. However, based on preliminary assessments and inconsistencies in her statement, she is now the prime suspect in what investigators are beginning to treat as a domestic crime gone fatally wrong.
While no arrests had been made as of late Sunday night, police sources confirm Pallavi has been detained for further questioning. Their daughter, who was also at the house earlier in the day, is being questioned as well.
&ldquo;There are signs of a struggle, and the nature of the injuries makes it unlikely this was an accident or self-inflicted. Initial investigation points to possible involvement of someone close to him,&rdquo; said a senior officer from the Southeast Division who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity.
Sources also revealed that Om Prakash had reportedly shared concerns with close associates about possible threats to his life in the past. While those concerns were not formally recorded, they add a chilling dimension to an already unsettling case. Police are examining a digital trail that includes WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by Pallavi prior to the incident, in which she claimed her husband was threatening her with a firearm.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she may have been battling mental health issues. Officers are now looking into the couple&rsquo;s recent domestic history, as well as CCTV footage from the vicinity.
The late Om Prakash served Karnataka Police in various key positions, including the Crime Investigation Department (CID), Fire and Emergency Services, and the State Lokayukta. After a distinguished career that spanned over three decades, he retired as DGP in 2017. Born in Champaran, Bihar, the officer was known for his academic grounding in geology and his steady rise through the ranks, beginning as ASP in Harapanahalli.
His mortal remains were shifted to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination late Sunday evening. The autopsy report is expected to shed more light on the nature and time of death.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death, and the FIR will be updated once a formal complaint from the family is recorded, officials confirmed.
As the investigation unfolds, Karnataka&rsquo;s law enforcement fraternity mourns one of its own&mdash;taken not in the line of duty, but possibly by a betrayal far too close to home.

Former DGP  Om Prakash  with his wife Pallavi

Former Karnataka DGP's wife prime suspect; police question her over the mysterious death

Ex-DGP Om Prakash Found Dead in Pool of Blood

Former Karnataka DGP's wife prime suspect; police question her over the mysterious death

April 20, 2025 | 21:18 IST