Goa: Suchana Seth, the CEO of Mindful AI Lab, a Bengaluru-based start-up, was apprehended in Karnataka's Chitradurga after allegedly murdering her four-year-old son in a Goa apartment.
The distressing incident unfolded when Seth (39) checked into a Candolim hotel in North Goa on January 6 accompanied by her son. However, two days later, she departed alone, carrying her son's body concealed within a bag.
While her motives remain unknown, authorities suspect her strained relationship with her husband, Venkat Raman, amid ongoing divorce proceedings, could be linked to the tragic incident.
Reportedly, Seth stayed at Sol Banyan Grande in Goa while her husband, an AI developer, was away in Indonesia. Concerns arose when she checked out unaccompanied, seeking a taxi to Bengaluru, refusing suggestions to opt for a flight, despite hotel staff's observations about her missing son and bloodstains in her rented apartment.
The Goa police intervened upon being alerted by the hotel staff. Initially evasive, Seth falsely claimed her son was with a friend, leading to suspicions. To handle the situation discreetly, the police, communicating in Konkani to avoid Seth understanding, directed the cab driver to divert to a Chitradurga police station.
Upon arrival, the police apprehended Seth, discovering the truth within the bag she carried - the lifeless body of her son. Investigations are underway, and the authorities have summoned Seth's husband back to India.
The police underscored the necessity for verification of facts and ongoing investigations into the circumstances leading to the distressing event.
Seth's accolades include recognition as one of the top "100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics for 2021" and a fellowship at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Centre, focusing on ethical AI practices in the industry.
A forensic team has been deployed to gather evidence, and CCTV footage from the hotel has been secured. The child's body has been entrusted to a Karnataka hospital pending a post-mortem to determine the cause of death.
Suchana Seth's social media presence indicated her last Instagram post, about three months ago, featuring her son near an aquarium. The post had the hashtag "#whatwillhappen," serving as her only online tribute to her son.