Hyderabad: The investigation into the murder of Kallu Roopa Reddy, a private school principal in Nalgonda district, Telangana, took a significant turn when police identified a crucial clue from a phone call. The word ‘babu’ led investigators to focus on students at the school, ultimately resulting in the arrest of two minors linked to the case. Authorities are continuing their inquiries as they piece together the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
Investigation Underway in School Principal’s Death
On August 11, a tragic incident occurred in JB Colony, Konda Mallepally, where school principal Reddy was found dead at her home. At the time of the incident, she had just returned from school and was alone, as her husband, Rajendra Reddy, was in Hyderabad for work.
Reddy was known for her role at the Nagarjuna Grammar Concept School, which she co-managed with her colleague Rani Reddy. Authorities reported multiple knife wounds on her body, indicating a violent attack.
According to police, the incident unfolded when Reddy confronted a student who was allegedly stealing money from her house. This confrontation escalated, leading the student to attack her with a knife. During the struggle, Reddy’s phone fell to the ground, and another student picked it up before fleeing the scene.
An investigation is currently ongoing as authorities seek to uncover more details surrounding this shocking event.
The word that cracked the case
The school had announced a four-day holiday after Reddy’s death. The police also looked into several possible motives, including property disputes, family issues and possible involvement of interstate gangs. During questioning, investigators found that two students had started spending large amounts of money and hosting parties after the principal’s death.
Because she was known to address school students as ‘Babu’, investigators considered the word important. Nalgonda Superintendent of Police Sharath Chandra Pawar said investigators questioned around 80 people and examined footage from 70 CCTV cameras. When classes resumed, 13 students were absent. The police became suspicious and questioned five grade 10 students.
Her family also told the police that she commonly used the word when speaking to students. The two initially told police that their parents had given them the money. The police said they later confessed to killing Reddy.
