Chaithanya “Swetha” Madhagani has been remembered as a “lovely” woman after her body was discovered in a wheelie bin on an isolated road in Victoria.
The mother was found in a paddock on Mount Pollock Road in Buckley, west of Geelong, yesterday and has been linked to a second crime scene 86 kilometres away at her home in Point Cook.
Her husband, Ashok Raj Varikuppala, may have flown to India with their three-year-old son just days prior to the disturbing find.
Police combed through their home in Point Cook today, which remained a crime scene, and seized a Mercedes.
A green waste bin was missing from the backyard and a high pressure cleaner seen nearby.
Neighbours were shocked to hear of the news and revealed they had last seen Madhagani at the park with her son more than a week ago.
“She was lovely, outgoing, friendly. We are completely in shock,” one neighbour told 9News.
“We saw them playing outside my house, nothing suspicious or anything like that, never heard screaming or anything so very shocking,” Felix Susando said.
“The husband was quiet … Swetha was different, she was more social, more friendly,” a third said.
Madhagani owned a clothing store in India while her husband installed solar panels.
Homicide detectives are investigating and attempting to piece together the couple’s movements in the lead up to Madhagani’s death.
Victoria Police has not yet publicly spoken on the case, saying only ”it is believed the parties involved are known to one another and the offender may have fled overseas”.
Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina suggested investigations may be challenging.
“Particularly in India, it’s very prolonged in some cases as we know from previous cases but you have to start the process somewhere,” he said.
“Sixty-four Australian women were killed in acts of violence last year.”
Psychiatrist Manjula O’Connor said it was “immensely sad” and “tragic” that women are subjected to violence.
“Silence is deadly. We need to break the silence as early as possible,” she said.
