Hyderabad girl tortured: Police arrest Prathyusha’s dad
Ramesh denies charges, justifies torture as his daughter was in love
Hyderabad: A week after 19-year-old Prathyusha was rescued and her stepmother arrested, the police on Thursday apprehended her father C. Ramesh Kumar, a junior telecom officer.
Ramesh, who had supported his wife Shyamala’s torture of his daughter for months, was hiding in a house at Bowenpally Crossroads.
Ramesh told the police that he had no interest in his daughter’s property and that he had given it to Prathyusha’s maternal uncle to look after. He claimed that he had not harmed Prathyusha.
The police is still verifying his claims. Ramesh said he did not stop his wife Shyamala because he felt that Prathyusha deserved the punishment. He claimed that she was in love with a boy, whom he and Shyamala did not approve of.
Police officials said that Ramesh was afraid of losing Shyamala and so he would never stop her despite Prathyusha collapsing several times due to the terrible torture.
In early 2000, Ramesh’s first wife and Prathyusha's mother Sarala Devi used to run a beauty clinic in the city.
“Ramesh met Shyamala there. She used to work with Sarala in the clinic. He had an affair with her, which eventually led to his divorce with Sarala,” said LB Nagar inspector E. Srinivas Reddy.
As per the divorce agreement, a flat was given to Prathyusha, who would have the property when she became a major. In 2008, Ramesh married Shyamala. After two years, his ex-wife Sarala committed suicide, and Prathyusha was put in an orphanage.
“In December 2013, Ramesh brought Prathyusha home, where she was treated as a maid by Shyamala. From the beginning, the couple wouldn’t allow Prathy-usha to go anywhere. Shyamala slowly incre-ased the torture and tried to kill her,” said a police officer.
Police has booked Ramesh for attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt and for wrongful confinement.
