Hyderabad: Police in Telangana’s Nalgonda district have solved the murder of a 48-year-old school principal and arrested two Class 10 students who allegedly carried out the crime to obtain money and maintain a lavish lifestyle.
Kallu Roopa Reddy, principal and director of Nagarjuna Public School in Kondamallepally, was found dead at her home on the morning of August 12. She had suffered 27 stab wounds.
Her husband, who was in Hyderabad at the time, became concerned after she failed to answer his calls. He contacted neighbours, who alerted the police. Officers reached the residence and found Roopa Reddy dead.
Five police teams were formed to investigate the case. The teams analysed CCTV recordings, forensic material, fingerprints, technical evidence and the movements of people suspected of involvement. More than 80 individuals were questioned during the investigation, as reported by NDTV.
A Final Word Offers Breakthrough
The investigation moved forward after police learnt that Roopa Reddy had used the word “babu” while speaking to her aunt shortly before her phone was switched off.
“The last word recorded during her conversation was ‘Babu’. We investigated who she could have been referring to, and this led us towards the school students,” senior police officer Sharath Chandra Pawar told reporters on Wednesday.
Police subsequently questioned students separately and focused on five Class 10 students who had not been attending school. Investigators noticed that two of them had begun spending heavily and organising parties in the days after the murder.
The two students were detained on Wednesday morning. During questioning, they allegedly admitted to killing Roopa Reddy as part of a pre-planned operation, Pawar said.
Students Reprimanded Earlier
Police said the students had previously faced action from Roopa Reddy after cash and a mobile phone were discovered in their hostel bags.
The principal then informed their parents about the incident. The students were subsequently removed from the hostel and shifted to day-scholar status.
Investigators believe the disciplinary action may have created resentment against the principal and contributed to the alleged murder plot.
Gloves & Disguise Used During Robbery
According to the police, the students spent five days planning the robbery and carried out a recce of Roopa Reddy’s house. They purchased a knife and gloves, intending to prevent police from finding physical evidence that could identify them.
On the day of the murder, one of the accused allegedly entered the house wearing a monkey cap and gloves. He reportedly found Rs 2.5 lakh in the bedroom and began leaving with the cash.
However, the monkey cap slipped during the incident, allowing Roopa Reddy to recognise him. Fearing that she would later identify him, the accused allegedly attacked her with a knife and stabbed her 27 times.
After the murder, the students allegedly took the cash and tried to destroy evidence by burying the blood-stained clothes and monkey cap. They also reportedly travelled to Goa following the crime.
Police recovered Rs 1.54 lakh in cash, including currency notes allegedly with blood stains on them. An iPhone reportedly purchased by the accused and Roopa Reddy’s mobile phone were also recovered.
Police also found out that the students had searched a video-sharing platform for ways to earn money quickly before carrying out the murder.