Two Class 10 students have been detained for allegedly murdering the principal and director of their school in Telangana’s Nalgonda district, police said on Wednesday. The case came to light after 49-year-old Kallu Roopa Reddy, principal and director of Nagarjuna Public School in Kondamallepally mandal, was found dead at her home on August 12. Her body had 27 stab wounds.
Roopa Reddy lived with her husband, Rajender Reddy, who was in Hyderabad for work when the murder took place. The couple also owned a house in Hyderabad, where their son, Abhinav Reddy, is pursuing an engineering course. She did not report to school the following day. When Rajender Reddy was unable to reach her by phone, he became concerned and contacted a police officer living near their home, asking him to check on her. The officer, accompanied by neighbours, went to the house and found Roopa Reddy dead. The murder sparked widespread concern in the area. Police picked up the suspect and questioned him. One of them entered the house and demanded money from her. The two allegedly spent part of the money at different places.
Police questioned more than 50 people, including Roopa Reddy’s husband, but initially found no clear lead. The two students went to Roopa Reddy’s house on the night of August 11 wearing masks and hoodies, according to the police. Police said the student then took Rs 2.20 lakh in cash from the house and handed Rs 40,000 to the student who had been waiting outside.
Police said the students allegedly killed Roopa Reddy over money, while one of them also held a grudge against her. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the crime and told investigators that money was one of the motives. Police said the CCTV footage, along with the blood-stained currency, proved crucial in establishing the sequence of events and cracking the case.
