Bengaluru: Software engineer stages suicide after allegedly killing ex-lover

A Bengaluru-based software engineer, Imad Basha, has been arrested for allegedly poisoning his former partner, Uzma Khan, after discovering her plans to marry another man. The 53-year-old reportedly acted out of anger when he learned that Uzma, 45, intended to wed a man from Australia, abandoning their long-standing relationship.

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Basha and Uzma had been in a relationship for years, having separated from their spouses eight years ago. Although their bond never culminated in marriage, they stayed in contact. At one point, Basha moved to Mumbai but later returned to Bengaluru, where Uzma frequently visited him at his apartment in Kundalahalli.

On New Year’s Eve, Basha invited Uzma to his flat, where they spent several hours together. Unbeknownst to Uzma, Basha had cloned her phone and accessed messages revealing her marriage plans, which reportedly left him distraught.

After their meeting, Basha sent alarming texts to relatives claiming they were both planning to end their lives due to his wife’s interference. This prompted Uzma’s brother to alert the police. Upon arrival, officers found Uzma dead, while Basha was alive but distressed.

Investigators suspect Uzma may have been strangled before being poisoned. Basha had consumed a non-lethal substance to simulate a suicide attempt. Police await forensic reports to confirm the cause of death and possible strangulation.