A tragic double suicide unfolded in a Kothanur apartment when techie Bhanu Chander Reddy Kunta (32) hanged himself, prompting his wife Bibi Shaziya Siraj (31) to jump from the 17th floor shortly after discovering his body on March 30, 2026.
The couple, originally from Siddipet in Telangana and working as software engineers in separate Bengaluru firms—Shaziya at IBM—were childhood friends who secretly married in 2024 without informing families, leading to strained family ties. Kothanur police recovered a suicide note from Bhanu citing severe depression, marital discord, job loss, and rising anxiety as key factors behind his decision.
Bhanu had previously earned an ₹80 lakh annual package in the US, where he owned property, and built a home in Telangana for his family. However, AI-driven layoffs ended his high-paying role, intensifying his mental health struggles despite support from Shaziya and relatives. The note explicitly stated no one else should be blamed, underscoring his personal torment.
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Shaziya returned home around 9:45 PM, found the door locked, and alerted neighbors and security after no response. Upon forced entry, she saw her husband's body and, in apparent distress, rushed out and jumped to her death minutes later. Post-mortem reports are awaited to confirm exact causes, with police registering unnatural death cases.
This incident highlights the mounting pressures on Bengaluru's tech workforce, where job insecurity amid AI disruptions exacerbates mental health issues. The couple's inter-faith marriage and secrecy added layers of familial discord, common in such cases. Authorities urge seeking help via helplines like 104 or AASRA (91-9820466726) amid rising suicides in IT hubs.
Families received the bodies on March 31 after formalities. Investigations continue, probing potential health issues and relational strains, as the city grapples with work-life imbalances in its fast-paced ecosystem.
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