Suchana Seth, the 39-year-old chief executive officer of an artificial intelligence startup based in Bengaluru, has been arrested by Goa Police under suspicion of murdering her four-year-old son while the two were vacationing in the coastal state.
According to authorities, Suchana killed the young boy at a rented beachfront apartment in North Goa earlier this week. She then traveled with his body over state lines in an apparent attempt to cover up the crime, but was apprehended in the city of Chitradurga late Sunday night after a taxi driver and apartment staffers raised alarms about her suspicious behavior.
The motive behind the horrific killing remains unknown. Police have informed Suchana’s husband Venkat Raman, who was away on business in Jakarta, about the incident.
Who is Suchana Seth?
Suchana Seth hails from West Bengal originally but built her life and career in Bengaluru. The 39-year-old is the founder and CEO of Mindful AI Lab, an artificial intelligence startup focused on AI ethics, algorithms, and data science.
According to Seth’s background detailed on professional networking platform LinkedIn, she is an expert in AI ethics and has served as a fellow at top institutions like Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center and the Raman Research Institute. She also holds multiple patents in natural language processing and machine learning.
In 2021, Suchana was recognized among the “Top 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics” globally for her pioneering work at the intersection of ethical AI and cutting-edge technology.
Details of the Crime
Authorities piece together that Suchana checked into a vacation rental apartment in Goa’s popular beach tourism hub Candolim along with her son on January 6th. After staying for a couple days, she told staffers at the rental that she needed to abruptly travel to Bengaluru for work and asked for a taxi to be arranged for the long journey.
Suspicions rose when staffers noticed the woman was no longer with her four-year-old son and was hauling an unusually heavy bag. There were also blood stains left on towels in the apartment she had rented.
Police prompted the taxi driver, who was transporting Suchana to Bengaluru, to divert to the nearest police station. Authorities in Karnataka consequently checked her bags and discovered the tragic remains of her son’s body.
Suchana now faces murder charges for her young son’s death. Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind this unthinkable crime by someone with an otherwise sterling professional reputation.
The Complex Case Ahead
This complex case involves multiple jurisdictions, since Suchana allegedly killed her son in Goa before crossing state borders with his remains. She will face charges in Goa, where the initial murder occurred, as well as potential additional charges in Karnataka for transporting a body illegally across state lines.
Police will have to carry out extensive investigations to establish the full sequence of events and collect all relevant evidence from multiple locations. Everything from crime scene analysis at the Goa apartment to autopsy results to interviews with witnesses who interacted with Suchana and her son will need to be gathered and assessed.
The prosecution will also need to conclusively confirm the identity of the deceased child and his relationship with Suchana as her son. Police will be contacting family members including Suchana’s husband to aid in formal identification.
Above all, investigators will attempt to determine what could possibly motivate a seemingly successful CEO and mother to murder her own four-year-old child while on vacation. Piecing together a full picture of Suchana Seth’s mindset and psychological state leading up to this tragedy will be key in the judicial process ahead.
Mental health factors and other potential extenuating circumstances may come into play as Suchana fights the murder charges. But regardless of underlying reasons, the justice system will first and foremost seek swift and fair punishment for the loss of an innocent young life.
This shocking case sends ripples through both the tech industry and family institution. Police caution the public not to pass judgement until a full investigation and trial reveals exactly what transpired in this heartbreaking crime. Prosecution under the Indian Penal Code will determine Suchana Seth’s ultimate culpability and fate.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of accused | Suchana Seth |
| Age of accused | 39 years old |
| Occupation of accused | Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of artificial intelligence startup Mindful AI Lab |
| Location of company | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Crime committed | Alleged murder of 4-year-old son |
| Location of crime | Rented apartment in Candolim, North Goa |
| Date of crime | Between January 6-8, 2024 |
| Discovery of crime | January 8 |
| Location accused arrested | Chitradurga, Karnataka |
| Date accused arrested | January 8, 2024 |
| Motive | Unknown |
| Status of investigation | Ongoing |
| Key evidence | Blood stains in rented apartment, deceased child’s body found in bag |
| Charges faced | Murder under Indian Penal Code |
| Extenuating factors | Potential mental health issues |
| Husband of accused | Venkat Raman, resides in Jakarta |
