Police in Nalgonda, Telangana, have solved the murder case of 48-year-old school principal Kallu Roopa Reddy.
Police have taken two students into custody on charges of murder. Both are accused of conspiring to murder for money and spending the money after the incident.
Roopa Reddy was the principal and director of Nagarjuna Public School in Kondamallepally.
She was found dead in her home on the morning of August 12. There were 27 stab wounds on her body.
During the investigation, police found a clue from Roopa Reddy’s phone conversation with her aunt.
During the conversation, before the phone was switched off, she had used the word ‘Babu’. After this, the police focused on the school students and advanced the investigation.
After the incident, police began investigation. At the same time, nearby people reached his house to meet Reddy’s family
Neighbours alerted police
Reddy’s husband was in Hyderabad. When she did not answer his calls, he informed the neighbours, who alerted the police. Police reached the spot and recovered her body.
Police then formed five teams to investigate the case. They examined CCTV footage, forensic evidence, fingerprints, technical data and suspects’ movements, and questioned more than 80 people.
Probe leads police to five missing students
Police officer Sharath Chandra Pawar said the last word recorded during Rupa Reddy’s conversation was “Babu.”
While investigating whom she was referring to, police traced the lead to students at the school.
Separate questioning identified five Class 10 students who were absent from school. Two of them had been spending large amounts of money and hosting parties in recent days.
Police detained the two students on Wednesday morning. According to police, they confessed to Reddy’s murder and said they had planned and carried out the crime.
Principal had previously reprimanded the students
According to police, Reddy had earlier reprimanded the two accused students after money and mobile phones were found in their hostel bags.
The principal informed their parents, and the students were removed from the hostel and told to commute to school from home.
Police suspect they were angry with her over this.
Police say the theft was planned for five days
Police said the accused planned the theft for five days, surveyed Reddy’s house, and bought a knife and gloves to hide their identities, leaving little evidence initially.
On the day of the murder, one student allegedly entered the house wearing a monkey cap and gloves.
He found ₹2.5 lakh in the bedroom and tried to flee with the money. However, his cap reportedly slipped, and Reddy recognised him.
Police said the student then allegedly stabbed Reddy 27 times, fearing that his identity had been exposed.
Blood-stained clothes and monkey cap buried
Police said the accused fled with cash after the murder and allegedly tried to destroy evidence by burying their blood-stained clothes and monkey cap. The two later travelled to Goa, according to police.
During the investigation, police recovered ₹1.54 lakh, an iPhone and Reddy’s mobile phone from them.
Police also found that the two had searched for ways to make money quickly on a video-sharing platform before the crime.
Both accused are minors, and the investigation is ongoing.
