A shocking case of multiple murders has rocked Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district, where a 35-year-old man allegedly killed six people, including his wife, two young sons, a teenage girl who had accused him of sexual harassment, and two of her family members.
The accused, identified as Rajkumar, allegedly began the killing spree on Friday night by attacking his wife, 30-year-old Parvathi Saritha, and their two sons, aged four and one, at their home in Shabad.
Police said Rajkumar then drove to the residence of a 17-year-old girl who had filed a complaint against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on May 16. He allegedly forced the teenager into a car, took her to a secluded location, and murdered her.
Investigators said the accused also killed the girl’s 45-year-old mother and 65-year-old maternal grandmother at their home. The victim’s 20-year-old sister, who is a person with disabilities, was present during the incident but was not harmed.
Accused Called Father After Killings
According to senior police officer Tarun Joshi, Rajkumar contacted his father after the murders and confessed to the crime.
“He told his father, ‘I have done this. I have murdered these people.’ After that, he switched off his phone. He also said he was going to die by suicide, but that has not been confirmed yet,” Joshi said.
Police said the accused remains absconding.
“The accused is currently on the run. Special police teams have been formed, and we have developed leads. He will be apprehended soon,” Joshi added.
Love Marriage and POCSO Case
Rajkumar and Parvathi Saritha had married in 2018 after a love relationship. Initially, they lived outside the village before moving into their homes in Shabad and Devalaguda.
The couple had three children, although their first child, a daughter, died during infancy.
In May this year, Rajkumar was arrested after the teenage victim accused him of stalking and sexually harassing her.
According to police, he repeatedly followed the girl from her coaching institute to her residence and allegedly pressured her to accept his proposal.
“The accused was following the girl from her coaching institute to her house and was pressuring her to accept his proposal,” Tarun Joshi said.
After the case was registered, Rajkumar initially absconded before securing anticipatory bail. Police said the offences invoked in the case carried a maximum punishment of less than seven years, making him eligible for anticipatory bail. He was granted bail on a personal bond of ₹20,000 around a week before the alleged murders.
History of Behavioural Issues
Investigators said Rajkumar had a history of behavioural problems.
“We called him two or three times for counselling. His family members have stated that his mental condition was not stable. He also had a gambling habit and had accumulated loans earlier,” Joshi said.
Police are examining whether these factors contributed to the crime while continuing their investigation into the motive.
Children Believed to Have Been Killed in Their Sleep
Relatives who reached Rajkumar’s residence after the incident said the two children appeared to have been killed while asleep.
They also reported signs of a violent struggle in the room where Parvathi Saritha’s body was found. According to family members, the house was locked from inside, and the fan, air-conditioner, and cooler were still running when the bodies were discovered.
Relatives said there had been no visible family disputes before the incident, and Parvathi had spoken normally with family members the previous evening.
Forensic experts have examined both crime scenes, while investigators are reconstructing the sequence of events and working to establish the exact motive behind the killings. Police have launched a manhunt to trace and arrest the accused.