Engineering student’s ‘suicide’ turns out to be murder two arrested

Engineering student’s ‘suicide’ turns out to be murder; two arrested Police say a chilling sequence of events unfolded on September 12 when 19‑year‑old engineering student Akshitarani Rao vanished near the FCI crossroads in Hyderabad. Witnesses reported seeing her walking home after a late‑evening study session when a dark‑coloured sedan slowed beside her. The driver, identified as 22‑year‑old Naveen Kumar, offered her a ride, claiming he was heading in the same direction..

CCTV footage later released by the city police corroborates the encounter, showing the vehicle pulling away with Rao inside. The incident set off a frantic search that initially led investigators to suspect a suicide. The initial narrative of a self‑inflicted death emerged after a handwritten note was found in Rao’s dormitory, allegedly blaming her classmate Ravi Sharma for a sexual assault that had supposedly driven her to take her own life..

The note, typed in a hurried script, mentioned “I cannot live with what he did to me” and was accompanied by a bottle of pesticide found near her bed. University officials, shocked by the tragedy, placed classes on hold and issued a statement urging calm while the police launched a routine inquiry. However, detectives from the Hyderabad Crime Branch soon uncovered inconsistencies..

Forensic analysis of the pesticide bottle revealed traces of a sedative, suggesting Rao had been drugged before ingestion. The handwriting expert concluded that the note bore striking similarities to Rao’s previous assignments, but the pressure points and ink density differed, hinting at coercion. Moreover, the toxicology report indicated a high concentration of a paralytic agent not typically present in household pesticide, raising doubts about a voluntary ingestion..

Further scrutiny turned to Naveen Kumar, who was apprehended on September 15 after a tip‑off From a local shopkeeper who recalled seeing him near the crossroads on the night of the disappearance. During questioning, Kumar denied any involvement, claiming he merely offered Rao a lift and dropped her at her hostel. He insisted the note was his idea, meant as a “prank” to embarrass Ravi, and that he never forced her to drink the poison..

The investigators, however, presented a recorded phone call where Rao, her voice trembling, pleaded with Kumar not to make her sign the document. The second suspect, Ravi Sharma, a fellow engineering student, was also taken into custody after his name appeared repeatedly in the coerced note. Ravi maintains his innocence, stating he had no contact with Rao after a minor disagreement in a laboratory session two weeks earlier..

Lawyers for Ravi argued that the note was fabricated to settle an old rivalry, pointing out that both men had previously been involved in a campus debate club where heated arguments were commonplace. The court has ordered a thorough examination of their social media interactions for any evidence of threats or harassment. In a press conference held on September 20, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anjali Mehta disclosed that the murder charge stems from “premeditated abduction, intimidation, and forced ingestion of a lethal substance.” She emphasized that the police are treating the case as a “deliberate homicide disguised as suicide,” and that the forensic team is currently reconstructing the timeline of events inside Kumar’s car using DNA swabs from the upholstery..

Early results suggest Rao’s blood was present on the driver’s side door handle, corroborating the theory that she was restrained during the ride. The investigation also uncovered a disturbing pattern of similar incidents in the university’s vicinity over the past year, where several students reported receiving threatening messages linked to alleged sexual misconduct. A university spokesperson, Professor S. Ramesh, admitted that the institution had failed to provide an adequate support system for victims, prompting an internal review of its grievance procedures..

The university’s dean has pledged to set up a dedicated counseling centre and to cooperate fully with law enforcement in the ongoing probe. Legal analysts note that the case could set a precedent for how “forced suicide” claims are handled in India’s judicial system. Under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, causing another person to commit suicide is punishable with up to ten years’ imprisonment, but prosecutors now argue that the act was “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” due to the evident use of force and deception..

If the court accepts the prosecution’s argument that Rao was incapacitated before the pesticide was administered, the charges could be elevated to murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Human rights organisations have seized upon the case to highlight the broader issue of gender‑based violence on campus. Amnesty International’s India office released a statement urging the government to enact stricter safeguards for female students and to ensure rapid, transparent investigations of alleged sexual assaults..

The group also called for the implementation of a campus‑wide anonymous reporting mechanism, citing Rao’s tragic death as a stark reminder of the consequences of silence and victim‑blaming. Meanwhile, Rao’s family, devastated by the turn of events, has demanded justice and called for a public apology from the university. In a heartfelt interview with a local newspaper, her mother, Mrs. Lakshmi Rao, said, “We trusted the institution to protect our daughter..

Instead, she was taken from us in the most brutal way. We will not rest until those responsible are punished.” The family has also announced plans to set up a scholarship in Akshitarani’s name to support women pursuing engineering, hoping to turn grief into empowerment. The two suspects remain in custody at the Hyderabad Central Prison, awaiting their first hearing, scheduled for early October..