Shabad murders: Viral rumours end as police confirm Raj Kumar’s death

A day of rumours and speculation over the whereabouts of Shabad murder suspect Raj Kumar ended after police confirmed he was found dead in Penjarla village. Investigators continue probing the circumstances surrounding his death and the six murders.

Hyderabad: Monday witnessed high drama and widespread tension as conflicting reports regarding Raj Kumar, the prime suspect in the killing of six people in Shabad, flooded social media and television channels.

Throughout the day, unverified claims suggested that Raj Kumar had been apprehended by the police in Suryapet after allegedly consuming pesticide and had been shifted to a hospital for treatment. The reports spread rapidly, fuelling speculation and keeping people glued to television screens and social media platforms.

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For the third consecutive day since the murders came to light, public curiosity remained intense, with many eagerly awaiting the outcome of the massive police manhunt.

As rumours continued to circulate, several people speculated that Raj Kumar could be killed in a police encounter in the forested areas around Kothur, reflecting the widespread public outrage over the brutal killings.

The uncertainty finally ended later in the day when police confirmed that Raj Kumar had been found dead under suspicious circumstances in Penjarla village in Kothur mandal of Ranga Reddy district. His body was recovered from an open area, and a pesticide bottle was found nearby.

Raj Kumar was the prime accused in a POCSO case filed by the family of a minor girl in May 2026. Following the murders on July 10, investigators alleged that Raj Kumar had targeted the complainant’s family before returning home, where he allegedly killed his wife and two young sons.

The tragedy has since sparked widespread public debate over the adequacy of police protection and the handling of the initial harassment complaints that allegedly preceded the killings.