Girl's death after falling in Neredmet nala: TS court orders police to reinvestigate

HYDERABAD: In a major setback to the police and GHMC authorities, the I Additional Metropolitan sessions judge in Malkajgiri directed Neredmet police to further investigate the death of 12-year-old Sumedha Kapuria, who died after falling in an open nala in Neredmet during the heavy rains in September 2020, and file a fresh report in the case.

Parents of the girl had blamed GHMC officials for keeping the nala open. To their dismay, Neredmet police, who investigated the case, concluded that Sumedha’s death was accidental, filed a final report in the court and closed the case.

Sumedha’s parents Sukanya Kapuria and Abhijit Kapuriya, alleging that the police had submitted the final report in the court without conducting any investigation, approached the court. Allowing their petition, the I Additional junior civil judge-cum-I Additional Metropolitan sessions judge at Malkajgiri directed Neredmet police to re-investigate.

Sukanya and Abhijit told Deccan Chronicle, “We have been fighting for the past three years, without any relief whatsoever. Our fight is for all those citizens, whose family members had lost their lives after falling in open nalas. We want all those responsible to be punished.”

The court took note of their contention that the GHMC in its report filed before the SHRC had mentioned that the structure of the nala was such that it is unlikely for any person to travel or pass through the drain for more than a kilometer. It was not mentioned in the final report filed by the police.

They also contended that the chemical analysis report of viscera, which was sent to FSL was not filed. Further, the report also did not mention that there was no rain on the fateful September 17 when Sumedha was riding a bicycle.

“As these points are missing in the final report, this court feels that it is appropriate to allow the petition for further investigation into the matter,” said the court in the order issued on July 31.

The victim’s parents alleged that GHMC violated its previous orders to close nalas and fence them to avoid such incidents.

“We will approach the High Court seeking justice and action against all those responsible for this incident,” the parents said.