Police in Nalgonda district of Telangana have claimed to solve the sensational murder case of school principal K. Rupa Reddy. Investigation has revealed that the crime was committed not by seasoned criminals, but by two minor 10th-grade students enrolled in the same institution. According to law enforcement officials, the duo orchestrated a robbery scheme to seize a substantial amount of cash collected as school fees. Dressed in hoodies and masks to conceal their identities, the teenagers breached the principal's private residence, triggering a violent chain of events.
The Robbery Plot and the Night of the Crime
Sharath Chandra Pawar, Superintendent of Police (SP) for Nalgonda, detailed that a major collection of school fees had occurred on August 11. Knowing that a significant sum of cash might be stored at principal K. Rupa Reddy's residence, the two students hatched a plan to steal the funds. On the night of the incident, both suspects arrived at the victim's house equipped with face masks and hoodies to avoid detection.
While one suspect sneaked inside the house, the other stood guard outside to monitor the surroundings. At the moment of entry, K. Rupa Reddy was speaking with her maternal aunt over a mobile phone. During the intrusion, the suspect's mask slipped down from his face, allowing the principal to immediately recognize him. In shock, she addressed the student as 'Babu', a term that was simultaneously captured on the audio call being heard by her aunt. Fearing immediate exposure, the panic-stricken intruder attacked the principal with a knife.
27 Knife Stabs and Theft of Rs 2.20 Lakh
Police reported that the attacker inflicted 27 knife wounds on K. Rupa Reddy in a desperate bid to eliminate the witness. The severity of the injuries led to her immediate death on the spot. Following the fatal assault, the suspect ransacked the house and fled with approximately Rs 2.20 lakh in stolen cash alongside his accomplice waiting outside.
After fleeing the crime scene, the main suspect handed over around Rs 40,000 of the looted money to the accomplice who had kept watch. In the initial phase of the investigation, detectives faced a major query regarding why K. Rupa Reddy had uttered the word 'Babu' right before the attack. That single word proved to be the turning point in guiding the investigative strategy.
Tracing Suspects Through the Word 'Babu'
Under the direction of SP Sharath Chandra Pawar, police teams focused on compiling a list of individuals whom K. Rupa Reddy habitually addressed as 'Babu'. This led investigators to scrutinize students associated with the school. Initial inquiries narrowed the focus down to five 10th-grade students whose routines were analyzed closely.
Among the shortlisted students, two displayed highly suspicious behavior in the days following the murder. Investigators noted that within two to three days after the incident, the duo began spending unusually large amounts of money. Their sudden lifestyle change prompted police to detain them for rigorous questioning.
Bloodstained Currency Notes and Evidence Recovery
During interrogation, police recovered Rs 1.54 lakh in cash from one of the students. The suspect initially attempted to misguide officers by claiming that his parents had provided the money. However, upon closer inspection of the cash, forensic officers identified dried bloodstains on several currency notes, providing definitive evidence connecting the cash to the crime scene.
Confronted with the bloodstained notes and technical evidence, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the murder and robbery. Police have seized Rs 1.54 lakh in cash, three mobile phones, a knife, gloves, and face masks from the accused. Investigators also uncovered that one of the suspects had purchased an iPhone approximately 20 days prior to the murder, and inquiries are ongoing to determine if there was any financial link between that purchase and the robbery plan.
Background of the Minors and Legal Proceedings
Background checks conducted by the police revealed that both minor suspects had previously been involved in petty thefts. They reportedly had habits of spending money on parties and leisure activities with friends. Additionally, police found that the teenagers had searched YouTube and social media platforms for quick money-making schemes. A strong desire to buy a motorcycle and fund their spending habits are considered primary motivators behind the crime, though investigators are still verifying the exact timeline of how the plot was finalized.
Police utilized CCTV footage, forensic data, and mobile network analytics to reconstruct the timeline before and after the murder. As both accused individuals are under 18 years of age, proceedings against them are being conducted under the Juvenile Justice Act. Further investigation remains underway in Nalgonda to verify whether any additional individuals aided the suspects.
