Wife used her final words to tell cops how to solve her murder after husband secretly planted ‘trackers’ in her car: DA

A chilling murder case that unfolded in Bengaluru, India, demonstrated how a victim’s final words can become one of the most powerful pieces of evidence in a criminal investigation. Prosecutors said a woman’s dying declaration ultimately helped authorities solve a deadly crime that began with her husband secretly monitoring her movements through a GPS tracking device installed in her vehicle.

The case centered on Shruthi Gowda, a government official whose troubled marriage, alleged surveillance by her husband, and relationship with another man culminated in a fatal confrontation that shocked the community and led to a life sentence for the accused.

Secret GPS Tracking Led Husband to Wife’s Location

According to investigators, Shruthi Gowda’s husband, Rajesh Gowda, had become suspicious about her relationship with another man, Amit Keshavamurthy. Prosecutors said Rajesh secretly placed a GPS tracking device in his wife’s car to monitor her movements.

The tracking device allowed him to know where she was traveling and whom she was meeting. Authorities later said that Rajesh used the information gathered from the tracker to follow Shruthi and eventually locate her when she met Amit.

Investigators determined that the GPS device played a critical role in the events that followed because it enabled Rajesh to track the couple’s whereabouts in real time.

Marriage Marked by Growing Tensions

Court records and reports indicated that Shruthi and Rajesh had been married for years and shared two children.

Over time, however, the marriage reportedly deteriorated. Authorities said Rajesh became increasingly suspicious of his wife’s fidelity. Investigators later learned that Shruthi had developed a relationship with Amit Keshavamurthy, an advocate whom she had met while seeking legal assistance.

The relationship became a source of tension within the family, and prosecutors argued that Rajesh’s jealousy and anger eventually escalated into violence.

Fatal Confrontation Near Engineering College

On Jan. 13, 2017, Shruthi and Amit met near Acharya Engineering College in Bengaluru.

According to prosecutors, Rajesh tracked the location of his wife’s vehicle through the GPS device and traveled to the area. He was accompanied by his father, Gopalkrishna.

Investigators said Rajesh confronted the pair and opened fire on Amit at close range.

Amit suffered fatal gunshot wounds and died from the attack. Authorities alleged that the shooting was not a spontaneous act but the culmination of Rajesh’s efforts to monitor and follow his wife.

Wife Became Key Eyewitness

Following the shooting, Shruthi became the most important eyewitness in the murder investigation.

She had witnessed the attack and was able to identify those responsible. However, the case took another tragic turn shortly afterward.

Within hours of Amit’s killing, Shruthi was found dead after taking her own life.

Her death created a major challenge for investigators because the prosecution had lost the only direct eyewitness who could testify about the shooting in court.

Final Phone Call Became Crucial Evidence

Before her death, Shruthi made a phone call to a relative.

During that conversation, she described what had happened and identified the people responsible for Amit’s murder. Prosecutors later argued that this statement effectively served as a dying declaration.

The woman reportedly explained that her husband had tracked her location and had shot Amit.

Investigators treated the call as a crucial piece of evidence because it documented the account of the only eyewitness before her death.

How Police Used Her Last Words

Authorities carefully examined the contents of Shruthi’s final conversation.

Investigators corroborated details from the call with physical evidence, witness statements, and other findings collected during the investigation.

Prosecutors argued that her statements were trustworthy because they were made shortly before her death and under circumstances in which she had no reason to fabricate events.

The case relied heavily on the legal principle that a person facing death is unlikely to lie about significant facts concerning a crime.

As a result, her final words became one of the strongest pieces of evidence presented against Rajesh.

Investigation Revealed Extensive Surveillance

As detectives continued examining the case, they uncovered evidence that Rajesh had been closely monitoring his wife’s activities.

Police determined that he had secretly installed the GPS tracking device on her vehicle without her knowledge.

Investigators said the tracker allowed Rajesh to follow Shruthi’s movements and confirm meetings between her and Amit.

The surveillance evidence strengthened the prosecution’s theory that the murder was motivated by jealousy and was aided by technology that enabled Rajesh to locate the couple.

Father Also Implicated in the Case

Authorities alleged that Rajesh’s father, Gopalkrishna, was involved in the events surrounding the shooting.

Investigators examined the roles played by both men and the circumstances leading up to Amit’s death.

Prosecutors argued that the actions of the father and son demonstrated planning and coordination rather than a sudden act of rage.

The investigation focused on how the pair traveled to the location after tracking Shruthi’s movements and subsequently confronted the victim.

Court Proceedings and Conviction

The case eventually proceeded through the Indian court system, where prosecutors presented evidence gathered during the investigation.

Among the most significant pieces of evidence was Shruthi’s final phone call, which prosecutors said effectively identified the killer and explained how he had located the victims.

The court considered the dying declaration alongside other evidence, including the GPS tracking information and witness testimony.

After reviewing the evidence, the court found Rajesh guilty of Amit Keshavamurthy’s murder.

Husband Sentenced to Life in Prison

Years after the shooting, the court handed down its verdict.

Rajesh Gowda was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Amit Keshavamurthy.

The conviction marked the end of a long legal battle that relied heavily on the victim’s final statements and the investigative work that confirmed key details of her account.

Prosecutors said the case illustrated how technology can be misused to stalk and monitor individuals, while also demonstrating how a victim’s final words can help ensure accountability.

Legacy of a Remarkable Dying Declaration

The case remains notable because of the extraordinary role played by Shruthi Gowda’s last statements.

Although she was unable to testify in court, investigators and prosecutors credited her final phone call with helping solve the crime and establish what happened on the day of the shooting.

Her words provided investigators with a roadmap that ultimately led to a conviction, transforming a potentially unsolved case into one that ended with a life sentence for the man prosecutors said secretly tracked her movements and murdered the person she was meeting.

The case continues to be cited as an example of how dying declarations can become decisive evidence in homicide prosecutions when supported by careful investigation and corroborating facts.