Telangana Lecturer Arrested in Engineering Student Murder Case

Police in Telangana have arrested Naveen Kumar, an outsourced lecturer at Singareni Collieries Polytechnic in Naspur, in connection with the death of 20-year-old engineering student Thandra Akshitarani. Authorities allege that what was initially reported as a suicide was, in fact, a murder staged to mislead the victim's family and investigators.

According to police, Akshitarani was intercepted by Naveen Kumar near the FCI crossroads on September 12, 2026, while she was returning home. Investigators claim that Naveen forced her into his car, compelled her to write a note accusing Ravi Kumar—a Singareni overman—of sexual assault, and then made her consume pesticide. Police further allege that Naveen delayed seeking medical help and used Akshitarani’s phone to contact her father, attempting to portray the incident as a suicide.

Akshitarani was admitted to the Godavarikhani government hospital on September 12 and died during treatment the following day. Initially, police registered a case of suicide after recovering the note. However, subsequent investigation, which included reviewing CCTV footage, call records, and recorded conversations, led authorities to identify Naveen as the main accused.

The relationship between Akshitarani and Naveen Kumar reportedly began when she was a diploma student at the same polytechnic. Their association deteriorated after she moved to Hyderabad to pursue a degree in mining engineering and later became close to Ravi Kumar during an apprenticeship at a Singareni mine. Police allege that Naveen became resentful after Akshitarani distanced herself from him.

On September 20, 2026, police arrested both Naveen Kumar, 38, and Ravi Kumar, 35, as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities also seized a car and mobile phones believed to be linked to the case. The investigation is being supported by technical evidence, which police say was crucial in reconstructing the sequence of events leading to Akshitarani’s death.

Meanwhile, a separate inquiry is underway into Akshitarani’s allegations of a forced physical relationship involving Ravi Kumar. According to police, this aspect remains under investigation and is subject to judicial proceedings. Ravi Kumar’s wife has publicly disputed the allegations against her husband, stating that he was wrongly implicated and that an internal Singareni inquiry had previously cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Police have not yet concluded the investigation into either the murder or the related allegations against Ravi Kumar. No court verdict has been delivered, and all claims remain allegations at this stage.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of students and the handling of sensitive allegations within educational and industrial institutions in Telangana.