Raj Kumar, accused of murdering six individuals in the Shabad mandal of Rangareddy district late Friday night, was discovered deceased in a secluded area of Penjerla village near Kothur, approximately 20 km from his residence in Daivalaguda, according to police reports on Monday. It is suspected that he may have ingested a herbicide, which could have led to his demise.
The body was located nearly 63 hours after the tragic events, concluding an extensive manhunt that mobilized 13 police teams throughout Telangana.
A local villager contacted the authorities via Dial 100 around 3 p.m. after spotting the body in a remote location. Police subsequently verified that the remains belonged to the accused by cross-referencing identification and evidence collected from the scene.
Investigation Details Unfold
Future City Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi disclosed that numerous items were retrieved from the deceased, which are currently under examination.
“We found some bus tickets on him. We have to check the evidence found on him and verify all this. We found a one-litre herbicide bottle. Prima facie, it appears he consumed it and that could be the possible cause of death. We found ₹1,206 in cash on him. His mobile phone was in airplane mode,” Mr. Joshi expressed.
The Commissioner further noted that investigators found a video recorded by Kumar on his mobile device.
“… As per the video, he made it at 4.55 p.m. on the day of the murders. It clearly says that he was fed up with things, wanted to kill them all and then kill himself… He declared that he had decided to kill the girl, her mother, and grandmother before taking the lives of his own family and then ending his own life. He repeatedly asserted that his wife and children were not involved in the dispute,” stated Mr. Joshi.
Timeline of the Tragic Events
The horrifying incidents unfolded late on Friday night at two sites located about six kilometers apart. Police revealed that the accused initially attacked a minor girl who had previously filed a complaint against him under Sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (PoCSO) Act, along with her mother and grandmother. Following this, he reportedly returned home and took the lives of his wife, Sarita, and their two young sons, aged four years and one-and-a-half years.
In the aftermath, the investigating officer who had previously handled the initial case has been suspended pending further inquiry.
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities indicated that a post-mortem examination will determine the precise cause of death, while a forensic analysis of the extracted materials, including the mobile phone and video, is actively in progress.
