Mahabubabad Court Sentences Kidnapper to Death for Brutal Murder of 9-Year-Old

Mahabubabad, September 29, 2023:

In a tragic and heart-wrenching incident that shook the town of Mahabubabad, justice has been served today as the Mahabubabad District Court handed down a death sentence to Manda Sagar, the man responsible for the kidnapping and heinous murder of nine-year-old Kusuma Deekshith Reddy on September 18, 2020.

The horrifying incident unfolded when young Deekshith, the son of journalist Kusuma Ranjith Reddy and Vasantha, residents of Krishna Colony in Mahabubabad, went missing on that fateful evening. Sagar, a two-wheeler mechanic and a close acquaintance of the family, seized the opportunity to commit this gruesome crime in an attempt to extort a ransom of Rs 45 lakh.

Sagar’s meticulous planning and evasive tactics stymied initial investigative efforts. He made 14 internet phone calls to the boy’s mother, Vasantha, in an attempt to avoid detection. The desperate parents filed a complaint, setting off an intense manhunt led by Superintendent of Police (SP) N Koti Reddy, which included Task Force and CCS personnel. Despite their efforts, Sagar remained elusive, successfully eluding the 140 CCTV cameras installed in Mahabubabad town.

Tragically, when the kidnapper called Deekshith’s parents again, they agreed to pay the ransom as instructed. Deekshith’s father, Ranjith, carried Rs 45 lakh in cash to Moodu Kotla, anticipating a ransom exchange. However, no one appeared to collect the money. Inexplicably, the accused chose to end young Deekshith’s life.

SP Koti Reddy revealed that Sagar had abducted Deekshith with the intention of making a quick profit. He executed the horrifying act the very same day in the Thallapusalapally Gutta area, strangling the innocent child before setting him on fire.

Sagar, who hails from Shanigapuram village and was familiar with the family’s financial situation, had meticulously scouted the town, taking note of all CCTV cameras and cell phone towers. He had also acquired knowledge of police operations during his previous employment as a driver at a police station, which aided in his eluding law enforcement.

The relentless pursuit of justice led to the tracing of internet IP and call details, eventually leading to Sagar’s arrest. As the court reached its verdict, Judge Chandrasekhar Prasad did not hesitate to sentence Manda Sagar to death for this heinous crime that left a community in shock and mourning.

The final rites for young Deekshith were conducted in Shanigapuram, bringing a somber closure to a devastating chapter in Mahabubabad’s history.