How Boduppal’s murder unfolded: Husband caught on camera dumping pregnant wife’s body in Musi

Hyderabad: The gruesome murder of the five-month pregnant woman by her husband shocked the city and reminded everyone of the horror of a similar crime that occurred in Meerpet in January this year.

After the husband confessed to killing his wife after he was caught on camera trying to dispose of her body in the Musi River, the details of the murder came to light.

Domestic quarrel led to wife being strangled

It was around 4:30 pm on August 23 when what seemed like another quarrel inside a modest rented house at Boduppal spiralled into horror.

In a fit of rage, 27-year-old Rapido rider Samala Mahender Reddy allegedly strangled his five-month pregnant wife, B Swathi (21), to death.

But the killing was only the beginning. With chilling precision, Mahender pulled out an axe blade he had purchased earlier, dismembered her body and began plotting the disposal.

Believing he could erase all traces, he stuffed the torso inside the house and packed the severed head, hands and legs into bags before dumping them in the Musi River at Prathapsingaram.

Parents became suspicious after Swathi was unreachable

The crime may have gone unnoticed longer, but when Swathi failed to contact her parents after a medical check-up she had mentioned, they grew anxious. Her sudden disappearance prompted them to approach the police, who immediately began a probe.

Husband caught on camera dragging bags to Musi

Investigators combed through CCTV footage around the locality and along the riverbed. The cameras revealed Mahender’s suspicious movements, lugging bags towards the Musi.

This became the crucial break. Medipally police detained him, and under questioning, he confessed to the murder and chilling disposal of his wife’s body parts.

Couple married in 2024

The couple’s relationship had been turbulent from the start.

Married on January 20, 2024, through a love-cum-arranged wedding at Arya Samaj, Kukatpally, the two, both from Vikarabad district, shifted to Hyderabad soon after. Within weeks, quarrels became routine.

In April, Swathi lodged a case of harassment against Mahender at the Vikarabad Women Police Station under Section 498-A IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Though village elders mediated and urged reconciliation, disputes persisted. Mahender’s growing suspicions forced Swathi to quit her call centre job, and even during her pregnancy, clashes never ceased.

Husband bought murder weapon long ago

Police said Mahender had long nurtured suspicions about his wife and had already purchased an axe blade, waiting for the opportunity.

On August 22, when Swathi told him she intended to visit her parents after a medical check-up, another heated argument erupted.

The next day, he executed his plan, turning their rented home into the scene of one of the city’s most gruesome crimes in recent times.

Police hand over Swati’s mortal remains to family

Rachakonda police on Monday handed over the remaining body parts of 21-year-old Swati, who was brutally murdered by her husband, Samala Mahender Reddy, at their residence in New Balaji Hills, Boduppal.

Search operation in Musi

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) assisted police in scouring the river. However, not all body parts could be traced despite days of search operations.

DNA confirmation

To confirm identity, police collected DNA samples from Swati’s family members and sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Based on the reports, the recovered remains were handed over to her kin.

Accused in judicial custody

After producing Reddy before a local court in LB Nagar, police secured judicial remand. The accused has been lodged in Cherlapally Central Prison.