Police Gather Key Evidence in Nookaraju Family Suicide Case
He allegedly demanded that the family transfer property worth around ₹25 crore at Ravulapalem into his name, but they refused.
Kakinada:Sarpavaram police gathered key evidence in the Assistant Engineer T. Nookaraju, his wife Meena and daughter Sowjanya’s suicide case during the interrogation of the main accused, Shaik Sadiq Khan, on the third day of his police custody on Thursday.
As part of reconstructing the sequence of events, police took Sadiq Khan to the Pro Shooting Academy in Kakinada, where they conducted a thorough inspection for nearly an hour and seized several pieces of evidence. Later, he was taken to the houses of Nookaraju and his daughter Sowjanya for further inquiries. He will be produced before the Kakinada court at 10.30 a.m. on Friday.
Police said the accused did not provide satisfactory answers during interrogation. Despite being asked more than 200 questions, he reportedly responded to several of them with statements such as “I don’t know” and “I forgot.” At one point, he allegedly threatened to kill himself, prompting police to question his conduct during an interrogation conducted under CCTV surveillance using scientific methods.
The investigation reportedly revealed that Sadiq had purchased thallium potassium from traders in Hyderabad, allegedly with the intention of killing Jagadeeswara Reddy, Sowjanya’s husband. He reportedly told the traders that he was a rifle shooter and required the chemical for his work. The traders have reportedly confirmed to police that they sold the chemical to him.
Police gathered evidence suggesting that Jagadeeswara Reddy survived an initial exposure to the chemical but later died after cyanide was allegedly administered to him with the assistance of Sowjanya.
Investigators also found evidence that Sadiq allegedly pressured Sowjanya to convert her religion and had placed religious texts in her house. He allegedly demanded that the family transfer property worth around ₹25 crore at Ravulapalem into his name, but they refused.
Following Jagadeeswara Reddy’s death, Sadiq allegedly pressured Nookaraju to transfer the assets belonging to both Jagadeeswara Reddy and Nookaraju to him. When Nookaraju refused, Sadiq allegedly threatened to release videos and recordings that could damage the family’s reputation. Unable to bear the alleged threats and pressure, Nookaraju, Meena and Sowjanya reportedly died by suicide by jumping into the Godavari.
