Andhra Pradesh suicide pact horror: Rifle shooting coach Sadhik Khan arrested from UP after widow, parents and minor son jump into river | Vijayawada News
KAKINADA: The Kakinada district police have arrested rifle shooting coach Sheikh Sadhik Khan in connection with the alleged murder of Kovvuri Jagadeesh Reddy, days after Jagadeesh’s wife, her parents and 10-year-old son jumped into a river following an apparent suicide pact, in which the child survived.Considering the severity of the case, Kakinada District SP G Bindu Madhav constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and ordered a detailed probe under the leadership of Kakinada in-charge sub-divisional Police Officer and Additional SP (Admin) Dr Mahanti Kishore Kumar.The incident involving Jagadeesh Reddy’s family took place near Rajahmundry on August 17. Kovvuri Soujanya, her parents Tillapudi Nookaraju and Tillapudi Meena, and her son Riyansh Karthikeya Reddy jumped into the Godavari River.According to the earlier police account, Nookaraju (61), an assistant engineer in the Panchayati Raj department in Pithapuram of Kakinada district, his wife Meena (59), daughter Soujanya (34) and 10-year-old grandson Riyansh had travelled from Kakinada to Kovvur.The family later reached the Road-cum-Railway Bridge near Rajahmundry. Nookaraju and Meena allegedly jumped into the river first, followed by Soujanya and Riyansh. Riyansh became trapped in the grill of the bridge for some time before falling into the river.Rajahmundry II Town Police received a 112 emergency call at around 11.40pm and reached the spot, where they found the family’s car and footwear on the bridge. Police alerted fishermen in the river, following which two fishermen responded and rescued Riyansh.Nookaraju, Meena and Soujanya were washed away and their bodies were subsequently recovered from the river.Rajahmundry II Town Police registered Crime No. 143/2026 under Section 108 of the BNS / 306 IPC and launched an investigation.During the probe, police recovered suicide notes. In her note, Soujanya allegedly stated that harassment by Sadhik Khan was the reason for her death and also alleged that Khan had killed her husband, Jagadeesh Reddy, by administering chemical poison.Nookaraju had also allegedly sent a suicide note through WhatsApp to an engineers’ group, addressing the Kakinada district Collector and SP. In the note, he blamed rifle shooting organiser Sheikh Sadhik Khan for the family’s decision to take the extreme step.Nookaraju alleged that after the death of his son-in-law Jagadeesh Reddy in July, Sadhik Khan entered their lives by assuring Soujanya that he would help her. He further alleged that Khan threatened his daughter, grandson and himself with death and took control of valuables and bank accounts.In her suicide note, Meena allegedly expressed concern over the future of her daughter and grandson and said that her husband’s health was not good. She stated that the family could not face Sadhik Khan, whom she described as cruel.She also alleged that Khan would sell her daughter and grandson and claimed to have heard a phone conversation in which he allegedly said that he would acquire the family’s entire property once Soujanya got it in her name.Acting on reliable intelligence, one of the special teams travelled to Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. With the assistance of local police, the team apprehended Sheikh Sadhik Khan near the Nauchandi Police Station area at around 9 am on August 22.Khan was produced before the chief judicial magistrate court in Meerut, where police obtained a transit warrant. He was subsequently brought to Kakinada and produced before the Kakinada Special Mobile Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.Police said a comprehensive investigation is underway into the allegations contained in the suicide notes and dying declaration, the role of Sheikh Sadhik Khan, the circumstances surrounding Jagadeesh Reddy’s death, alleged threats made against the family and allegations relating to religious conversion.Investigators are scientifically analysing mobile phones, digital evidence, CCTV footage, call data records, medical records, bank transactions and other material to establish the sequence of events and determine the role of the accused.
