Hyderabad, July 13: The man accused of brutally murdering six people, including his wife, two young sons, and three members of a family that had filed a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case against him, was found dead on Monday in Telangana’s Rangareddy district.
The body of B. Rajkumar (29) was discovered in a real estate venture at Penjerla village in Kothur mandal after local residents alerted the police. Officers who reached the spot identified the deceased as the prime accused in the sensational multiple murder case that shocked the state.
Police suspect Rajkumar died by suicide after a bottle of poison was found near the body. The body was shifted for postmortem examination, and an investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of death.
Future City Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi and other senior police officials visited the scene.
Rajkumar had been on the run since the night of July 10, when he allegedly carried out six murders in two separate attacks at Daivalaguda in Shabad mandal. A massive manhunt had been launched to trace him, and the police had announced a reward of ₹2 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
According to investigators, Rajkumar allegedly murdered three members of the complainant’s family before killing his own wife, Sarita, and their two sons, aged four years and one-and-a-half years. Police said all six victims were allegedly stabbed with a knife before their throats were slit.
Investigators said the attacks began at the residence of a 17-year-old girl who had accused Rajkumar in a POCSO case. He allegedly killed the girl’s mother, Lakshmi, and maternal grandmother, Rukkama, before abducting the minor and later killing her in Daivalaguda village, around six kilometres away.
Police said Rajkumar had lived near the victim’s family for several years before moving away with his family about six months ago.
The accused was booked in May under Sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly stalking and sexually harassing the minor girl. He had obtained anticipatory bail last month. Investigators believe the murders were carried out as an act of revenge over the criminal case.
Police also revealed that shortly after the killings, Rajkumar allegedly telephoned his father, confessed to the murders, and stated that he intended to end his life. His father subsequently informed the Shabad police.
The gruesome incident triggered widespread public outrage. In the aftermath, Shabad Police Sub-Inspector T. Ramesh, who was investigating the POCSO case, was suspended. The victim’s family had alleged that the officer failed to arrest Rajkumar despite repeated complaints that he had threatened to kill the minor girl and her mother.
Further investigation into the case is underway, while authorities await the postmortem report to confirm the exact cause of Rajkumar’s death.
