A devastating incident in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh has taken a sinister turn, revealing deep layers of alleged harassment, blackmail, and coercion behind a family tragedy. Authorities have arrested a man named Sadiq following the discovery of a detailed suicide note left behind by one of the victims.
The Tragic Plunge into the Godavari River
The sequence of events unfolded on the night of August 16, when 61-year-old Panchayat Raj Department assistant engineer Nookaraju, his 58-year-old wife Meena, their 38-year-old daughter Sowjanya, and young grandson Riyansh reached the Rajamahendravaram Road-cum-Rail Bridge. In a shocking move, family members leaped into the Godavari River. Local fishermen and police swiftly launched rescue operations. After battling the water for roughly 20 minutes, young Riyansh was pulled to safety and survived, while Nookaraju, Meena, and Sowjanya tragically perished.
A Five-Page Note Highlighting Severe Allegations
During the ensuing investigation, police recovered a note left by Nookaraju and another five-page letter discovered on Sowjanya's scooter. According to Kakinada Superintendent of Police Bindu Madhav, both documents repeatedly highlighted the name Sadiq Khan. Sowjanya's notes contained harrowing accusations, alleging that Sadiq subjected her to intense physical and mental torture, blackmail, and intimidation. Most shockingly, the note claimed that Sadiq was responsible for the death of Sowjanya's husband, Jagadish Reddy, by allegedly procuring a lethal chemical from Canada via Mumbai and administering it to him.
Coercion, Religious Pressure, and Threats
Sowjanya detailed in her writing how a relationship built on initial trust turned into an oppressive nightmare. She alleged that Sadiq gathered information about the family through her son Riyansh and subsequently used it to control her. The note claimed that Sadiq posed as a coach at Riyansh's school and threatened to kidnap the child and sell him to terrorists. Furthermore, Sowjanya alleged she was relentlessly pressured to convert to Islam, required to read religious texts, and forced to write daily notes, facing severe beatings whenever she resisted. She recounted an incident roughly 10 days before the family tragedy where she was allegedly taken to Uppada Beach, pushed into the sea, and threatened against resistance.
Manhunt Across Five States and Arrest in Meerut
Following the tragedy, Sadiq reportedly turned off his mobile phones and went into hiding. Police formed 10 special teams and executed raids across five states to track him down. Law enforcement eventually located and arrested him in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Brought back to Kakinada on a transit warrant, he underwent medical examinations before being presented in court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Investigators at the Sarapavaram police station have since been interrogating him regarding his relationship with the family and the specific claims in the note. Authorities are also investigating the operations surrounding Sadiq's shooting academy as part of the broader probe.
