Kiran Reddy murder: Husband arrested for murder

The doctor husband of Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy's niece has been arrested by police and booked for murder following her suspicious death. Police said on Wednesday that Chaitanya Reddy allegedly killed 26-year-old Kiran Reddy, also a doctor, in "an inebriated" condition following a heated argument, and that the death four days back was due to "smothering and asphyxiation."

Chaitanya was booked under section 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Penal Code after Kiran Reddy, 26, was found dead in her house at Bharani Layout in Jubilee Hills here on June 18. He was arrested on Tuesday evening.

"The postmortem report and scientific evidence have come to the conclusion that the death was due to smothering and asphyxiation. Based on the various evidences that we had gathered, we have come to the conclusion that Chaitanya had smothered her and committed her murder," Deputy Commissioner of police (West Zone) M Stephen Raveendra told mediapersons.

The Jubilee Hills Police had initially registered a case of suspicious death and later altered it to murder, after the victim's father Raghottam Reddy suspected foul play by her husband (Chaitanya Reddy) and his other family members.

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On Tuesday, police questioned Chaitanya, his parents and other family members in connection with Kiran's death. They said they were sure that it was an unnatural death, but were waiting till the causes of the death were established in a scientific way.

After the autopsy report came out, police arrested Chaitanya, who was remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday afternoon. Chaitanya while being shifted to the court alleged that police resorted to "third-degree" methods and he was forced to confess the murder.

Kiran's mother Bharathi, is the elder sister of Jaipal Reddy, the Union minister for Petroleum. Kiran, a private dermatologist, was married to Chaitanya five years ago and they had a four-year-old daughter.

Giving details, the DCP said the day before the incident which was shrouded in mystery, the couple had attended a party given by the victim's brother Sunil.

"On that particular night, Kiran and Chaitanya consumed alcohol at the party, however the accused was high on alcohol. He also picked up a quarrel with the manager of the restaurant," Stephen said.

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"Kiran objected to this quarrel, and told Chaitanya that she did not like it. After reaching home at around 1.15 am, Kiran slept in another room. However, the accused followed her and asked her to come back to his room, though she refused."

"After this, heated arguments ensued between the couple and in a fit of anger Chaitanya pushed her and smothered her to death," the senior police officer explained.

"Chaitanya later went back to his room and it was only in the morning that he realised that Kiran had indeed died. Being a doctor, he knew that Kiran had died but tried to cover it as a natural death saying Kiran was found unconscious on her cot and later shifted her to a nearby hospital," Stephen said.

"It seems Chaitanya didn't intend to kill her. But, he being a doctor, tried to cover up the murder and it did took us some time to solve the case," the DCP said when asked why it took so long to resolve the case.