WARANGAL: Police have arrested ten people, including a businessman, for the alleged murder of his pregnant wife and their two young daughters, whose bodies were found in a private swimming pool on the outskirts of Warangal about ten days ago.
According to Warangal Police Commissioner Sunpreeth Singh, the prime accused, Md Azharuddin, is suspected of killing his wife, 26-year-old Md Farhana, their daughters aged nine and five, and her unborn foetus after learning that the foetus was female. Investigators said he planned to marry a minor girl in the hope of having a male child.
Among those arrested are Azharuddin’s parents, Md Chand Pasha and Saleema, and his brother Sharfuddin, who allegedly assisted in the crime. Others include individuals accused of facilitating an illegal prenatal sex determination test, including a medical shop owner, an RMP practitioner, a doctor, a lab technician, a nurse, and a mediator. Two gynaecologists allegedly involved are currently absconding.
Police said the sequence began in March, when Azharuddin allegedly forced his wife to undergo a sex determination test through an illegal network of medical practitioners. After discovering the foetus was female, he is believed to have conspired with his family to carry out the murders.
On April 1, under the pretext of celebrating his younger daughter’s birthday, he reportedly took his family to a farmhouse near Punnelu village. There, police allege, he disabled CCTV cameras and cut power before pushing his wife and daughters into a swimming pool, remaining until they drowned. He then attempted to portray the deaths as accidental and alerted the woman’s family.
Suspicion was raised by Farhana’s father upon seeing the bodies, prompting him to file a complaint. Police formed special teams and arrested Azharuddin soon after; he reportedly confessed during questioning.
He has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder and destruction of evidence. The other accused have been booked under provisions of the PCPNDT Act for illegal sex determination.
Additionally, Azharuddin faces charges under the POCSO Act for allegedly attempting to marry a minor, following a complaint from the girl’s father.
