Hyderabad, Telangana: A horrific murder in Hyderabad has brought to light a previous domestic violence case filed by the victim, 21-year-old Swathi alias Jyothi, against her husband, Mahender Reddy. The 27-year-old husband, who allegedly strangled his five-month pregnant wife to death, has confessed to the crime and is in judicial remand.
Police investigations have revealed that the couple, who married in January 2024 against their families’ wishes, had a history of domestic conflict. In April 2024, Swathi filed a domestic violence case against Mahender. However, the couple reached a compromise after village elders intervened and mediated a settlement.
The peace was short-lived. The couple, who had been in a relationship before their marriage, started having frequent quarrels. Mahender, a cab driver, reportedly grew suspicious of his wife’s character and forced her to quit her job at a call center.
The final argument that led to the murder occurred on August 22, after Swathi, who had conceived in March of this year, told her husband that she wanted to go back to her hometown of Vikarabad for a medical check-up and to stay with her parents. This led to a heated quarrel during which Mahender decided to kill her.
According to DCP PV Padmaja, Mahender “strangled and smothered” his wife. He then allegedly used an axe blade to sever her head, hands, and legs, and disposed of the body parts in the Musi river to conceal the crime.
In a grim attempt to cover up the murder, Mahender filed a missing persons report for his wife. However, during police questioning, he broke down and confessed to the brutal killing. Authorities have collected evidence from the crime scene, and Mahender has been sent to judicial remand.