Hyderabad: Mahbubabad district Principal District and Sessions Judge P. Chandra Sekhara Prasad on Friday sentenced one Manda Sagar, 26, to death for the murder of a nine-year-old boy in October 2020. The child, K. Deekshith Reddy, knew Sagar and had trusted him
The court expedited the trial and completed it in three months. The judge also imposed a Rs 33,000 fine on the accused, said public prosecutor Chilukamari Venkateswarlu.
Police said that Sagar was aware that Deekshith’s family had purchased a property. He kidnapped the child to extort money from his parents, police said.
Mahbubabad superintendent of police G. Chandramohan said that the accused had kidnapped the boy, made ransom calls and then killed him. He used two mobile apps make internet calls to the boy’s parents and demanded Rs 45 lakh as ransom. Gearing that his identity might be revealed, Sagar killed the boy.
The SP said, “A strong case built based on technical evidence along with the statements of witnesses which proved the accused’s involvement in the offence. The court appreciated the evidence,” he said. The SP congratulated the investigating team and the court duty constables.
Chandramohan said that before the trial began, the police had prepared the witnesses in a moot court, where they were familiarised with the court proceedings and examination process so that they would be comfortable during the trial and in a position to depose facts correctly.
Sagar, a resident of Mahbubabad and working as a mechanic, had asked Deekshith, who was playing with his friends, to accompany him. Deekshith was familiar with Sagar, whom he had seen talking to his father, and went along with him on his bike.
Sagar took Deekshith to a hillock located at Annaram and killed him, police investigations later showed. When the parents began looking for Deekshith, Sagar joined them.
Simultaneously, Sagar was also calling Deekshith’s parents, using apps to conceal his identity, and demanding money for the release of the child.
The breakthrough came when the police who were scanning CCTV camera footage picked up a vital clue. Besides,
testimony of the Deekshit’s friends who were with him when Sagar picked him up resulted in the accused’s arrest.
Meanwhile, Deekshith Reddy’s parents Kusuma Ranjith Reddy and Vasantha hailed the death sentence awarded to Manda Sagar for the murder of their son K. Deekshith Reddy. “He brutally killed our son. We are satisfied with the verdict,” the couple told media outside the court.
They performed a ‘palabhishekam’ to a flexi having pictures of Deekshith, the Telangana Police emblem and the Lady of Justice. Some persons burst crackers outside the court. They expressed gratitude to the police and for conducting a foolproof investigation.
“This verdict should be a lesson to all such persons that they cannot escape the law. People who are affected should not resort to attacks on their opponents, they should fight for justice,” said Ranjith Reddy.
He said, “ With folded hands we appeal to the people to support the affected families, instead of slinging mud at them and hurting them even more,” he added.
Vasantha broke down outside the court, saying that no parents should go through the pain they were enduring. “ I am happy with the judgment and I thank everyone who supported us,” she said.
