- Shwetha and her partner Kenneth allegedly used an AI chatbot to plan the murder of her parents and sister in Bengaluru.
- The couple faced financial troubles from a cloud kitchen business and plotted the killings over six months.
- They fled after the crime but were arrested; police are investigating their chat history for details.
A shocking murder case in Bengaluru has come to light, with police claiming that a woman and her live-in partner allegedly used an AI chatbot while planning the killings of her parents and younger sister.
The accused woman, Shwetha, and her partner Kenneth were arrested in connection with the murders of 52-year-old Somasundar, his wife Muthulaxmi (48), and their 19-year-old daughter Supriya.
According to the investigation, the couple allegedly planned the murders for nearly six months after facing difficulties in repaying money borrowed for Kenneth’s cloud kitchen business. The Bengaluru Police have written to an AI tool company seeking access to the accused’s chat history, news agency PTI reported.
What happened?
On June 22, Somasundar, Muthulaxmi, and Supriya were found stabbed to death inside their apartment in Seegehalli.
A few days later, their elder daughter Shwetha and her live-in partner Kenneth were arrested separately from Puducherry.
Police said the accused allegedly fled after the crime and attempted to avoid arrest. Investigators further claimed that the couple took cash and silver ornaments from Shwetha’s house before escaping to Puducherry.
According to police, Kenneth allegedly brought Muthulaxmi to the apartment on June 22 and attacked her with a knife. Her husband and younger daughter were allegedly attacked when they arrived at the scene.
Despite suffering severe injuries, Somasundar reportedly managed to reach the staircase, where neighbours noticed him and informed the police.
In his moments, he allegedly named his daughter and her live-in partner as the attackers and requested authorities to save his wife and younger daughter before he died in hospital.
How AI chatbots were used in planning the murders
Police said Shwetha had allegedly borrowed ₹50 lakh from her mother for Kenneth to start a cloud kitchen business. With concerns over repayment and financial difficulties, the couple allegedly decided to commit the murders.
Investigators claimed that Shwetha and Kenneth used an AI chatbot while preparing the plan. The queries allegedly included questions related to carrying out the crime, disposing of bodies, removing evidence, and whether a furnace built for the cloud kitchen could be used to destroy the bodies.
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A senior police official told PTI that although both accused allegedly participated in the crime, Kenneth was primarily responsible for the planning.
“Questions and prompts were put in, seeking information on how to kill, dispose of bodies, and remove bloodstains and whether the furnace built by him for the planned cloud kitchen business could be repurposed to incinerate the bodies,” a senior police officer said.
Police further stated that Kenneth was highly socially isolated and that Shwetha financially supported him despite his limited contact with friends and family.
Authorities also alleged that Shwetha lost her IT sector job after being influenced by Kenneth.