The husband of the deceased, Chaithanya Madhagani, paid a visit to her parents in India
The spouse of a woman discovered deceased inside a green waste bin in rural Victoria purportedly traveled to her parents’ residence in India to deliver the heartbreaking news of their daughter’s passing.
The remains of Chaithanya Madhagani were found in a wheelie bin on a property in Buckley, located southwest of Geelong, on Saturday afternoon.
Following this discovery, Homicide Detectives visited the 35-year-old’s family home in Point Cook, Melbourne, where a second crime scene was examined.
Victoria Police issued a statement on Thursday morning expressing their desire to speak with her husband, who they believe has left the country.
“The investigation into her death remains ongoing, and no arrests have been made,” a spokesperson stated. “Detectives are still seeking to interview a 38-year-old Point Cook man, identified as the woman’s husband, although he is currently believed to be overseas.”
Reportedly, the deceased woman’s husband, Ashok Raj Varikuppala, took their four-year-old son to India following the incident, and police have yet to interview him regarding his wife’s demise.
Ms. Madhagani’s father recounted to the Herald Sun this week how Mr. Varikuppala allegedly arrived at their doorstep in Hyderabad last weekend, emotionally delivering the news of his wife’s passing.
“We were devastated upon hearing this; we were completely unaware of what was happening. My wife was speechless, only able to cry continuously,” Mr. Reddy told the newspaper.
According to Mr. Reddy, Mr. Varikuppala claimed that Ms. Madhagani’s death was unintentional before departing, leaving their son with the grandparents.
“We were stunned, shocked, and grief-stricken; tears were flowing,” Mr. Reddy said. “Ashok and my daughter married 12 years ago. They have a four-and-a-half-year-old son. They were happy, and we never heard of any marital issues between them.”
Victoria Police declined to comment on news reports to safeguard the homicide investigation’s integrity.
“Due to the gravity of the situation, there are certain aspects we cannot discuss to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation,” the statement read.
Friends of Ms. Madhagani, known affectionately as Swetha, have contributed to a GoFundMe page established to cover the expenses of repatriating her body to her family, raising nearly $15,000 thus far.
“Chaithanya was an extraordinary woman, best known for being an exceptional mother,” organizer Deepika Devara remarked. “She had a heart of gold and left a lasting impact on everyone she encountered. Her presence was always uplifting.”
Anyone with information regarding Ms. Madhagani’s death is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.