The murder of K. Roopa Reddy, a school principal in Telangana’s Nalgonda district, took a grim turn when police arrested two 16-year-old students from her school. Authorities allege the boys killed her for money.
Reddy, who led a private school in Kondamallepally, was found dead at her home on the morning of August 12. Her body had 27 stab wounds, mostly to her abdomen and left hand, according to Nalgonda Superintendent of Police Sharath Chandra Pawar.
The last word that cracked the case
The investigation gained its first lead from a single word: “Babu.” Police said it was the last thing Reddy said in a phone call before the attack. She often used the term—a common Telugu endearment for children—to address students, which directed investigators toward the school.
Five specialized teams examined CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and technical data. They interviewed more than 80 people, including 13 students who were absent when classes resumed after a four-day closure. Among them, five were Class 10 students, but two drew particular attention.
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The boys had been spending money freely, hosting food parties in the days after the murder. That behavior raised suspicions, but surveillance footage provided the key evidence. Police reviewed recordings from about 70 cameras within a 30-kilometer radius of the crime scene. One clip showed a boy in a red t-shirt near Reddy’s home, helping narrow down the suspects.
How the attack unfolded
Police allege the two students planned the robbery together. They purchased a knife and gloves, then split up during the attack. One entered Reddy’s house from the back while the other kept watch outside.
After the killing, they fled with cash and an iPhone. Authorities later recovered Rs 1.54 lakh, the phone, the knife, gloves, masks, and two mobile phones. Three Rs 500 notes had bloodstains, and forensic tests confirmed the blood matched Reddy’s.
The motive was financial. The boys allegedly believed the principal kept school fees at her home. There may have been additional factors. Pawar noted one student had a history with Reddy. He had previously lived in the school hostel but was removed after cash was found in his bag. Later, he was shifted to day scholar status—a disciplinary action that may have contributed to his resentment.
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Investigators are still determining whether that grievance influenced the killing. For now, the focus remains on the botched robbery.
The accused are juveniles, so their identities remain undisclosed. Their cases will proceed under laws protecting minors, and no court has established their guilt. The investigation continues.
The community remains shaken. A school once associated with learning and safety is now linked to violence. Parents and teachers struggle with the reality that two students may be responsible. The school remains closed while the investigation proceeds.
