An engineering student’s “suicide” turns out to be murder; two arrested

Image used to represent | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos

What initially appeared to be a “suicide” of a 21-year-old engineering student after ingesting a pesticide turned into a case of murder after the Peddpalli police found that she was allegedly forced to consume it and that the note was part of an attempt to make her death appear self-inflicted.

Police have arrested Naveen Kumar, 38, an external lecturer at Singareni Collieries Polytechnic, Naspur, on charges of murdering Thandra Akshitarani and trying to stage her death. Also arrested was Ravi Kumar, 35, a Singaran superior accused of threats, extortion and violent intimidation in the name of love. Both were taken into custody on September 20.

Peddapalli Deputy Commissioner of Police B. Ram Reddy said Akshitarani met Naveen while pursuing her diploma. Their relationship soured after she moved to Hyderabad to study mining engineering and subsequently met Ravi during an apprenticeship at the Singareni mine.

“Naveen could not tolerate Akshitarani distancing herself from him and getting closer to Ravi Kumar. He developed a grudge against them,” the officer said.

According to the police, Naveen nabbed Akshitarani near FCI junction when she was returning home on September 12. He took her in a car and allegedly forced her to write a letter accusing Ravi of sexual assault before forcing her to consume pesticides.

Police said Naveen then kept her from receiving medical treatment. He later allegedly used Akshitarani’s phone to contact her father in an attempt to convince the family that she had killed herself.

Akshitarani was finally shifted to the Godavarikhani Government Hospital on 12 September. She died the following day during treatment. With a suicide note, the police initially registered a case of suicide.

But CCTV footage, call logs, call recordings and other technical evidence began to point investigators in a different direction. The police reconstructed the sequence of events and named Naveen as the main accused in her death.

Naveen is married with two daughters. Ravi is also married with children. Police seized the car and mobile phones as part of the investigation.

Meanwhile, a separate investigation is underway into Akshitarani’s allegations against Ravi, including that he forced her into a physical relationship. He is also accused of threats and extortion.

(Help to overcome suicidal thoughts is available on the state health line 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha on the suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

Published – 24 Sep 2026 08:28 IST