Hyderabad engineering student death: Cops say she died in road mishap

Hyderabad, May 9: Police on Sunday said the death of a 21-year-old engineering student here last Sunday was "due to injuries" in a road mishap contrary to allegations of murder made by her father.

The mishap had occurred last Sunday when K Devi Reddy was travelling in a car, driven by her friend Soma Bharath Simha Reddy, in which she had gone to attend a party. Bharath had survived with minor injuries.

In his complaint lodged with Jubilee Hills Police Station, the girl's father, Katkuri Niranjan Reddy had sought necessary legal action against the driver of the car.

However, in another complaint lodged on May 3, he alleged that his daughter's death might not be accidental and that she could have been subjected to sexual assault and then murdered. Katkuri cited an eye witness in his complaint.

"In view of the apprehensions expressed by the complainant, a comprehensive investigation has been carried out in the case to bring out all facts and circumstances leading to the death of the victim and there by establish truth. Six Special teams were constituted to work out the clues in this case," Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahendar Reddy told reporters.

He said the physical scientific evidence collected during the course of investigation has clearly established that "it was an accident occurred at the crime scene as injuries sustained by the deceased, the impact marks on the car and tree trunk corroborated with each other adequately beyond doubt".

The top cop said Devi's postmortem report clearly established that she died due to multiple injuries caused during accident.

"The medical evidence further suggested there were no symptoms of sexual assault. The medical evidence further indicated that external and internal injuries mentioned in PME report were accidental in nature," the police commissioner claimed.

"No corroborative evidence was found to substantiate the statement of the witness, Ramulu cited by the complainant in his second complaint, in which it was alleged that the witness saw a fight between two individuals (male and female and she was put in the back seat of the car)," Reddy said.

He said further efforts will be made to collect corroborative evidence, if any, to establish truth in this regard during the course of investigation.

"The act of accused (Bharath Simha Reddy) in driving the car under intoxication leading to the death of the victim in a fatal road accident amounts to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Therefore, the accused is liable to prosecution for an offence under section 304 (part-II) IPC. He shall be arrested and sent to judicial custody accordingly," the police commissioner added.

PTI