By Staff Reporter
India: In a gruesome crime that has shocked the city, a man allegedly murdered his wife, chopped her body into pieces, and dumped the remains in the Musi river, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place in Boduppal under Medipally police station limits in Medchal-Malkajgiri district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
The accused, identified as Mahender Reddy, 30, a driver with a ride-hailing app, had married Swati, 25, a call centre employee, about 18 months ago.
According to media reports, Reddy killed Swati at their residence on Saturday evening following a heated argument. He then used an axe blade to sever her head, arms, and legs. Placing the body parts in small plastic covers, he made three trips to the Musi river the same night to dispose of them.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Malkajgiri), PV Padmaja, told reporters on Sunday that the crime came to light when Reddy tried to mislead Swati’s relatives.
After committing the murder, he phoned his sister-in-law Chandrakala and claimed that Swati had gone missing. Growing suspicious, Chandrakala informed her uncle Goverdhan Reddy, who lives in Dilsukhnagar.
When Goverdhan questioned Mahender, he repeated the same story that Swati had left home and not returned. Together, they went to Uppal police station late Saturday night to lodge a missing complaint. Since the case fell under Medipally police station limits, they were redirected there.
During questioning, officers noticed inconsistencies in Mahender’s replies. After sustained interrogation, he confessed to the killing and revealed the details. Police immediately registered a case and arrested him.
On Sunday, forensic experts and investigators searched the couple’s residence, recovering evidence along with the torso of the victim. The remains were sent for DNA testing.
Teams from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to the Musi river to trace other missing body parts.
Investigators said Mahender hailed from Kamareddyguda in Vikarabad district. His marriage with Swati was an inter-caste love marriage. However, within two months, disputes arose between the couple, leading to frequent quarrels.
Swati had earlier lodged a harassment complaint against him, following which police counselled the couple and reconciled them in the presence of elders.
Police described the murder as a brutal act driven by ongoing domestic discord. Further investigation is underway.
