A peaceful residential neighbourhood in Bengaluru’s eastern corridor was shattered by violence on Wednesday morning after a 33-year-old US-returned tech professional Rohan Chandra Bhat was arrested for allegedly murdering his parents inside their villa.
The accused, Rohan Chandra Bhat, is alleged to have stabbed his father, Naveen Chandra Bhat (60), a retired Navy captain, and his mother, Shyamala Bhat (55), a dentist, following a heated argument over money. The couple lived in a villa at Adarsh Vista in Vignan Nagar, near the HAL township.
According to police, tensions had been brewing for some time. Rohan had returned from the United States about three years ago after working there as a software engineer. Since then, he had been working independently on technology projects and startups. Investigators say he struggled to raise funds to expand his ventures and began seeking financial help from his parents.
Police sources indicated that the elderly couple had expressed their inability to meet his financial demands. This reportedly led to frequent arguments within the family. At one point, Rohan moved out and began staying in a rented accommodation in Varthur due to ongoing disputes.
Officials said Rohan came to his parents’ home on Monday night and again demanded money. The disagreement escalated over the next two days. By Wednesday morning around 8 am, the argument allegedly turned violent. Police said he repeatedly stabbed both parents during the confrontation.
Neighbours, alarmed by loud noises from the villa, rushed to check on the family. They found the couple seriously injured and immediately shifted them to Manipal Hospitals on Old Airport Road. Doctors declared them brought dead.
A complaint was filed by Dr. Madhavi Nair, a neighbour who works with Manipal Hospitals. Based on her statement, HAL Police registered a case and took Rohan into custody. He was later produced before a court.
Police officials said they are yet to conduct a detailed interrogation to ascertain the exact sequence of events. They are also verifying details about his employment in the US and examining the financial angle more closely.
Rohan’s sister, who resides in the United States, has been informed of the tragedy and is expected to arrive in Bengaluru shortly. The bodies have been shifted to Bowring Hospital, where autopsies will be conducted after her arrival.
The shocking double murder has left residents of Vignan Nagar in disbelief. What neighbours describe as a respected and quiet family has now become the centre of a criminal investigation. Authorities continue to probe whether financial stress and emotional strain played a decisive role in turning a domestic dispute into a devastating crime.