Police allege lecturer Jetti Naveen Kumar forced 20-year-old Thandra Akshitarani to consume pesticide and staged her death as suicide
A 20-year-old engineering graduate’s death in Telangana’s Peddapalli district, initially treated as suicide, is being investigated as an alleged murder after police arrested two men.
Hyderabad: The death of 20-year-old engineering graduate Thandra Akshitarani in Telangana’s Peddapalli district, initially treated as a suspected suicide, is now being investigated as an alleged murder. Police have arrested an outsourced polytechnic lecturer and a coal-mine employee in connection with the case.
The accused have been identified as Jetti Naveen Kumar, an outsourced lecturer at an SCCL polytechnic college in Naspur, and Bommakanti Ravi Kumar, a coal-mine employee from Bellampalli. Police said a car and two mobile phones were seized from the accused.
Peddapalli Student Death Initially Treated As Suicide
Akshitarani died while undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Godavarikhani on September 13, a day after she allegedly consumed pesticide.
A suicide note was initially found, leading authorities to treat the death as a suspected suicide. However, police later examined CCTV footage, call records, call recordings and other technical evidence while investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
According to police, the investigation indicated that Akshitarani had allegedly been forced to consume pesticide and that an attempt was made to make the incident appear to be a suicide.
Lecturer Allegedly Forced Akshitarani To Consume Pesticide
Police said Naveen Kumar had known Akshitarani since she was pursuing a diploma at a polytechnic college in Naspur in 2022.
She later pursued mining engineering and reportedly came into contact with Ravi Kumar while undergoing training at a mine in Godavarikhani.
According to the police investigation, Naveen allegedly became upset after Akshitarani grew closer to Ravi Kumar. Police alleged that on September 12, Naveen took her in his car, forced her to consume pesticide and made her write a note accusing Ravi Kumar of sexual harassment.
Police further alleged that Naveen delayed taking her to hospital after she became unconscious and contacted her parents in a manner intended to suggest that she had attempted suicide.
Peddapalli DCP B. Ram Reddy said the investigation indicated that Naveen was unable to accept Akshitarani distancing herself from him and becoming close to Ravi Kumar.
Police Probe CCTV And Call Records
Investigators examined CCTV footage, call records, call recordings and other technical evidence before making the arrests.
Police have also said allegations involving Ravi Kumar will be investigated separately. According to the police, Ravi Kumar was alleged to have had a physical relationship with Akshitarani against her will. The allegations against him remain part of the investigation.
Police are also examining whether there was any negligence by college officials in connection with the case.
Akshitarani’s parents and members of her community had staged a protest following her death, demanding action against those responsible. The investigation remains ongoing.
