3 of Andhra family die by suicide, notes claim murder, forced conversion

On August 16, Panchayat Raj Assistant Engineer Nookaraju, his wife Meena, their daughter Sowjanya and her 10-year-old son allegedly jumped from a bridge into the Godavari River near Rajamahendravaram. The boy survived, while Nookaraju, Meena and Sowjanya died.Police initially investigated the deaths as a family suicide. Two alleged suicide notes later changed the course of the probe.What began as the suspected suicide of three members of a family in Andhra Pradesh has turned into a criminal investigation involving allegations of murder, blackmail and forced religious conversion. Two alleged suicide notes led police to rifle-shooting coach Sheikh Sadiq Khan, who was arrested in Meerut after a five-state search.On August 16, Panchayat Raj Assistant Engineer Nookaraju, his wife Meena, their daughter Sowjanya and her 10-year-old son allegedly jumped from a bridge into the Godavari River near Rajamahendravaram. The boy survived, while Nookaraju, Meena and Sowjanya died.Police initially investigated the deaths as a family suicide. Two alleged suicide notes later changed the course of the probe.TWO NOTES, ONE NAMEThe first note was purportedly written by Nookaraju. Based on its contents, police registered an abetment to suicide case in Rajamahendravaram. Investigators later recovered another alleged suicide note, written by Sowjanya, from a scooter. According to police, both notes named Sheikh Sadiq Khan.Kakinada District SP Bindu Madhav said Khan was held responsible in both notes, following which police named him as an accused and launched a search. Sowjanya's note accused Khan of harassment, threats and blackmail and alleged that he had pressured her to convert to Islam.Based on a complaint from Sowjanya's father-in-law, Bhaskar Reddy, police registered a case at Sarpavaram police station with charges relating to murder, extortion and forced conversion. Police are independently verifying the allegations in the notes.HOW THE FAMILY KNEW KHANAccording to police, Khan had known the family for nearly two years. They were first introduced through a professional shooting academy.Khan later joined the school attended by Sowjanya's son Reyansh Reddy as a rifle-shooting coach. Police are examining the nature of his relationship with Sowjanya and her family during this period.The probe has also brought the earlier death of Sowjanya's husband, Kovvuri Jagadeesh Reddy, under scrutiny.HUSBAND'S DEATH UNDER SCANNERIn her alleged suicide note, Sowjanya claimed Khan had given Jagadeesh Reddy a poisonous substance.Police are now investigating the circumstances of Jagadeesh Reddy's death and whether it was connected to the subsequent deaths of his wife and her parents. Jagadeesh Reddy's father also approached police after the August 16 incident.Khan's alleged role in Jagadeesh Reddy's death has not been established. Investigators are looking for evidence to corroborate Sowjanya's claim.FIVE-STATE SEARCH ENDS IN MEERUTAs the probe widened, more than 10 teams from the Kakinada and East Godavari district police were deployed to track Khan across five states, according to the SP.Police said Khan moved between locations and stayed with friends from the shooting fraternity, allegedly telling them he had lost his phone and money.He was eventually traced to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and arrested. Khan was produced before a magistrate there and brought to Andhra Pradesh on a transit warrant.A court has remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. Police are likely to seek his custody for further questioning.PROBE WIDENSPolice are now piecing together the events leading up to the family's deaths and investigating the allegations of harassment, blackmail and forced conversion, along with Khan's alleged role in Jagadeesh Reddy's death.The possible involvement of a driver is also being examined. Police said his culpability has not been established and he will be named in the case only if evidence emerges against him.The two alleged suicide notes remain key evidence, but police are independently verifying their claims. Khan remains an accused and the allegations against him are yet to be established in court.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 20:21 IST