New Delhi, 25 August 2026

The arrest of a rifle shooting coach has intensified the investigation into the deaths of a rural engineer and his family, who allegedly jumped into the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh earlier this month. As police examine allegations of coercion, extortion and forced religious conversion, the case has also sparked demands for a wider investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

On the intervening night of August 16 and 17, Thillapudi Nookaraju, a Panchayat Raj assistant engineer, allegedly jumped into the Godavari River from the road-cum-rail bridge in Rajamahendravaram along with his wife Meena, daughter Sowjanya and 10-year-old grandson. While the grandson was rescued by fishermen and survived, Nookaraju, his wife and daughter died. During the investigation, police recovered a note allegedly written by Nookaraju that linked rifle shooting coach Sheikh Sadhik Khan to the events leading up to the deaths. A case was subsequently registered against Khan on charges including allegedly forcing Nookaraju to convert to another religion, murder and extortion.

Khan was later arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut following a multi-state search operation and was brought to Andhra Pradesh on a transit warrant. "It was a very grueling chase across five states," Kakinada District SP Bindu Madhav said, adding that more than 10 police teams were deployed. Police reportedly tracked Khan despite his alleged efforts to avoid using phones and digital transactions. Investigators said Khan had known Nookaraju and his family for nearly two years and had worked as a rifle-shooting coach at a school attended by the family's grandson. The police are now examining his alleged relationship with the family, his movements after the incident and the claims mentioned in the notes.

Meanwhile, former MP Vijayasai Reddy has called for a CBI or NIA investigation, alleging a broader conspiracy and possible international connections. He claimed that Khan was part of a 10-member group allegedly involved in religious conversions, extortion, gun supply and anti-national activities, and further alleged that around 15 other families in and around Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram had been targeted. "Since the activities allegedly extend to other states and countries, this is a fit case to be handed over either to the CBI or the NIA," Reddy said.

With Khan currently in police custody, investigators are expected to reconstruct the sequence of events that preceded the deaths and determine whether any other individuals were involved. While the case continues to raise serious questions and allegations, officials have so far not established any link to the alleged 'love jihad', with the investigation remaining focused on uncovering the full circumstances behind the family's deaths.