Kakinada: Sheikh Sadiq Khan, the prime accused in the case linked to the death of Panchayat Raj Assistant Engineer Nookaraju and his family, was arrested in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on August 22 near Nauchandi Police Station by a special team with the help of local police. According to the police statement issued on August 24, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising six teams was formed under the directions of Kakinada District SP G. Bindu Madhav, IPS, to investigate the case.
The family tragedy took place on the intervening night of August 16 and 17, when Nookaraju, Meena, Sowjanya and her 10-year-old son jumped into the Godavari at Rajamahendravaram. The boy, Riyansh Karthikeya Reddy, survived after managing to stay afloat and was rescued by fishermen, while Nookaraju, Meena and Sowjanya died.
Sowjanya’s suicide note details
A note attributed to Sowjanya contains serious allegations against Sadiq Khan, including prolonged physical torture, blackmail, surveillance, threats, alleged involvement in her husband’s death and pressure to convert to Islam.
పదేళ్ళ వయసున్న రియాన్ష్ రెడ్డి తల్లి, ఆత్మహత్యకు పాల్పడ్డ సౌజన్య… తన మరణ వాంగ్మూలంలో ఏం చెప్పారో ప్రతి ఒక్కరికీ తెలియాలి. రాష్ట్రంలో ప్రతి ఒక్క మహిళా ఈ అంశాలు చదవాలి.
ఇది లవ్ జిహాద్కు సంబంధించిన ఘటన. రాజకీయ పార్టీలు ఇలాంటి అంశాలను కూడా బయటకు రాకుండా తొక్కిపెడుతున్నాయి… pic.twitter.com/cjwHQgXpLC— Vijayasai Reddy V (@VSReddy_MP) August 24, 2026
According to the alleged suicide note, Khan first became close to Sowjanya through her son RIO, playing with and entertaining him while allegedly learning details about her family. She said he later became close to her, gained her trust and promised to support her, but then allegedly began blackmailing her over private matters. She alleged that whenever she resisted, he beat her severely.
Sowjanya alleged that Khan eventually joined her son’s school as a coach and used the child to threaten and control her. She said he threatened to kidnap RIO from school and make video calls to control her if she resisted him.
Chemical poisoning in husband’s death
One of the most serious allegations in the note relates to her husband’s death. Sowjanya alleged that Khan gave him a highly dangerous chemical and killed him, claiming the substance had been brought from Mumbai and Canada. She said she tried to save her husband by taking him to Hyderabad, but alleged that Khan followed them there as well.
Assault, surveillance and threats
She further alleged that Khan maintained constant control over her through phone calls and WhatsApp, monitored her calls and movements, and threatened her with false criminal cases if she approached the police. She also alleged that he took control of house keys, phones, locker keys and original property documents.
The alleged note also describes repeated physical torture. Sowjanya said that about 10 days before writing the note, Khan beat her for three days, took her about 16 km from Uppada and pushed her towards the sea before allegedly pulling her back and threatening to throw her from rocks.
Pressure to convert to Islam
She also accused Khan of forcing her to convert to Islam. According to the note, he allegedly demanded that she convert immediately, read Islamic books and write books, and threatened her with daily torture if she refused.
Sowjanya said she feared for the safety of her parents and young son and claimed that the pressure had become unbearable. She said she wanted justice for her husband and had taken the extreme step because she believed the family could no longer withstand the situation.
AP BJP chief demands strict action
Andhra Pradesh BJP president PVN Madhav, speaking on August 24, demanded a comprehensive investigation into the Nookaraju family tragedy and strict legal action against Sadiq Khan and anyone who may have assisted him.
కాకినాడలో సాదిక్ ఖాన్ వేధింపుల కారణంగా ఏఈ నూకరాజు కుటుంబం ఆత్మహత్య చేసుకున్న ఘటనపై తక్షణమే స్పందించి, బాధ్యులపై కఠిన చర్యలు తీసుకోవాలని తిరుపతిలో రాష్ట్ర హోంమంత్రి శ్రీమతి వంగలపూడి అనిత గారికి బిజెపి జిల్లా అధ్యక్షులు సామంచి శ్రీనివాస్ నేతృత్వంలో నాయకులు వినతిపత్రం అందజేశారు. ఈ… pic.twitter.com/67R1sWhhLk
— BJP ANDHRA PRADESH (@BJP4Andhra) August 24, 2026
Madhav said the case should not be treated merely as a love affair or financial dispute and demanded a detailed investigation into allegations of blackmail, threats, financial exploitation, violence and forced religious conversion.
He also demanded that the DGP and Home Minister explain what action has been taken in complaints involving harassment of women and young women, including the number of complaints, FIRs, completed investigations and arrests.
Madhav called for immediate protection for victims approaching police and said their complaints should not be diluted in the name of counselling. He also demanded investigation into allegations described as “Love Jihad”, while stressing that any allegation of terrorist links must be established through evidence and investigated according to law.
He said the BJP would continue to raise the issue until justice was delivered to the Nookaraju family and demanded strict action against blackmail, forced conversion and other criminal activities.
Police said the investigation is continuing, with mobile phones, digital evidence, CCTV footage, call data, medical records and bank transactions being examined. The police statement was issued on 24.08.2026.
