Rejecting theories and assumption that Sandhya Rani, a 22-year-old from Hyderabad was set on fire by her former ‘boy-friend’, Sai Karthik, city police categorically stated that the accused was a ‘stalker’ who had harassed Sandhya for over a year.
After producing the accused, Sai Karthik before the media on Friday, North zone DCP Sumathi clarified that Sandhya in her dying declaration before the magistrate said that Karthik had harassed her for over a year. He had been pestering her to marry him, despite she rejecting his advances several times.
“The proprietor of Lucky Traders, where Sandhya and Karthik were working also agreed with the declaration of Sandhya,” the DCP said.
The DCP further said, “Karthik once gifted a phone to Sandhya, but she rejected the gift and asked the proprietor, Jagan Reddy to return it.”
Karthik was sacked from his job a year ago by Jagan Reddy, for his notorious behaviour and inefficiency. After being sacked, he insisted that Sandhya too should quit the job, since he no longer worked there. However, Sandhya never paid heed to him and continued with the job, DCP Sumathi said.
She further said that they have gathered all evidences to prove Karthik guilty. And said that they will record the statements of Jagan Reddy to make a fool-proof case against the accused.
“We will file the charge-sheet in record time to punish the accused. The nature of the crime is heinous,” she said and added that the murder should be seen as an individual incident.
On Thursday evening at around 6:30 pm, Sandhya was set on fire by Karthik on a Hyderabad road in full public view.
“He had a bottle of petrol concealed in his coat, which he poured on her and fled from the spot after setting her ablaze,” the DCP narrated.
Sandhya was returning home from work when Karthik intercepted and argued with her, before setting her on fire. Sandhya suffered 64% burns and succumbed to her burn injuries on Friday at around 6:30 am.
Karthik was detained by police on the same day of incident at around 11 pm. Terming Karthik as ‘Awaara’ (unemployed mischief) the DCP said that it was a ‘planned’ murder.
“We have evidences of CCTV footage, the petrol shop from where he bought the petrol,” the DCP said.
Sandhya resides in Shanti Nagar near Lalapet along with her large family.
Police have booked Karthik for murder and for outraging the modesty of a woman, and also charged him under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, since Sandhya belongs to the Mala community, a Dalit community.