In a horrifying case that has sent shockwaves across Telangana and beyond, a 30-year-old woman named A Rajitha stands accused of murdering her three young children in cold blood—all to pave the way for marrying her lover. The gruesome incident, which took place on March 27, 2025, in the quiet locale of Sangareddy district, paints a grim picture of how personal desires, when unchecked, can spiral into unthinkable violence.

Rajitha, a teacher employed at a private school in Ameenpur mandal, was living with her husband and three children when she allegedly decided to eliminate her family. The motive? A rekindled romance with a former classmate, Sooru Shiva Kumar, now a 30-year-old employee in a private firm in Nalgonda. What followed is a chilling tale of deception, manipulation, and murder.

The case began to unravel when Rajitha rushed her children—Sai Krishna (12), Madhu Priya (10), and Gautam (8)—to the hospital in a seemingly frantic state. She claimed that they had suddenly fallen ill after eating curd rice, and to make her story more convincing, she also feigned illness herself. Tragically, doctors at the hospital could only declare the children brought dead. The scene looked like a case of food poisoning on the surface, but as doctors dug deeper, something didn’t add up.

The medical team, suspecting foul play, conducted a postmortem examination. What they found shocked even the most experienced officers. There were no traces of toxins in the children's bodies—"The postmortem report... indicated that the children had died of asphyxiation, not food poisoning, as no traces of toxins were found in their bodies." This crucial revelation turned the case from an unfortunate medical emergency into a full-fledged criminal investigation.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Paritosh Pankaj, who is leading the investigation, addressed the media with a sobering update. "Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Paritosh Pankaj said the matter was initially assumed to be a case of food poisoning. However, upon investigation, the cops found that the accused, Rajitha, a teacher at a private school, had strangled the victims — Sai Krishna (12), Madhu Priya (10) and Goutam (8) — at their home in the Patancheru Assembly constituency."

He further added, "Initially, it was suspected to be a case of food poisoning. However, the post-mortem revealed that the children died of asphyxiation." These shocking details shattered any lingering doubts about the nature of the crime.

Confession and Motive

As the police investigation intensified, Rajitha eventually broke down during interrogation. What she revealed left investigators stunned. "Under questioning, Rajitha confessed to the murders, detailing a chilling plan. She admitted to sedating her children with food laced with sedatives and then suffocating them one by one with a towel." The calculated and emotionless way she carried out the act was especially chilling, showing premeditation rather than impulsive rage.

The motive behind this barbaric act was heartbreakingly selfish. Rajitha had rekindled her relationship with Shiva Kumar, and according to police sources, she was desperate to marry him. However, Shiva had one condition—"Reports suggest that Shiva had insisted he would only marry her if she had no husband or children, a demand that reportedly drove Rajitha to this extreme act." It’s a demand that any reasonable person would find abhorrent, yet Rajitha allegedly accepted it as her path forward.

Rajitha had been married to A Chennaiah, a 50-year-old water tanker driver, since 2013. Their marriage, marred by frequent quarrels and emotional strain, had become increasingly unbearable to her. During a Class 10 reunion planning event, roughly six months before the tragedy, she reconnected with Shiva. Their renewed acquaintance quickly escalated into an affair. "This rekindled connection, combined with her marital woes, seemingly pushed her toward the decision to eliminate her children to start a new life."

The Role of Shiva Kumar

While Rajitha has been portrayed as the direct perpetrator, Shiva Kumar’s role is under equal scrutiny. Evidence gathered by the police suggests he was far from innocent. "Shiva Kumar's involvement was not merely passive; evidence, including call records, suggests he was aware of and possibly encouraged Rajitha's plan." The sheer number of conversations between the two, discovered during the investigation, indicated a relationship that wasn’t just romantic—but criminally conspiratorial.

According to police, the pressure from Shiva Kumar—"Shiva's condition for marriage—requiring Rajitha to be free of family ties—played a significant role in the crime's execution." This detail, chilling as it is, reflects how far both individuals were willing to go in pursuit of their desires.

As of April 17, 2025, both Rajitha and Shiva Kumar have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The case has now entered the legal process phase, and authorities assure that justice will be pursued with full force.

Husband's Discovery and Reaction: A Shattered Life

The crime committed by Avuri Chintala Rajitha alias Lavanya wasn't just heinous—it was meticulously planned. "Determined to marry Shiva, Rajitha decided to eliminate her children. On March 27, after Chennaiah left for work, she fed the children food laced with sedatives. When they fell unconscious, she suffocated them to death with a towel. She then consumed a small quantity of the sedative-laced food and rushed to the hospital claiming food poisoning."

This heartless act unfolded in the early hours when her husband, A Chennaiah, a 50-year-old water tanker driver, had already left home. Rajitha saw this as the perfect opportunity to carry out her plan. After killing her three innocent children, she tried to build a cover story by acting like a victim herself. She ate a small portion of the same sedative-mixed food and rushed to the hospital, all to pretend that they had all fallen sick due to a meal gone wrong.

"Paritosh said, adding that she complained of a stomachache to her husband and even had herself admitted to a hospital. Upon his return home, Chandraiah discovered the bodies of the children and alerted the police."

When Chennaiah returned home, the reality he encountered was beyond anything he could have imagined. "When Chennaiah returned home, Rajitha pretended to be in pain, clutching her stomach and claiming she felt sick. She told him the children had also fallen ill after eating curd rice. In a panic, Chennaiah rushed to get help from neighbours to take her to the hospital. That's when he stumbled upon his three children, who were already dead. Overwhelmed with grief, his only concern was saving his wife and rushed her to hospital."

The scene was pure agony. A father seeing the lifeless bodies of his children, still unaware of the betrayal behind the tragedy. Driven by the urgency of the situation and his trust in his wife, he prioritized saving her life—never once suspecting that the person responsible for this devastation was the one he was trying to rescue.

How the Case Unfolded: Police Investigation and Confession

The case gained clarity only after a detailed investigation was launched. The Clues Team joined hands with the local police to leave no stone unturned. They collected call records between Rajitha and her lover Shiva Kumar, pored over forensic reports, and rechecked every minute detail that could confirm foul play. Their suspicion deepened as the postmortem report revealed the real cause of death—asphyxiation, not poisoning. This finding contradicted Rajitha’s story and exposed the calculated nature of the crime.

"The police, assisted by the Clues team, conducted a thorough investigation, examining call data between Rajitha and Shiva Kumar and analyzing postmortem reports. The absence of toxins in the children's bodies, combined with Rajitha's confession, solidified the case against her. Both accused were sent to judicial remand, with charges of murder pending. The investigation also revealed that Rajitha had consumed a small amount of sedative-laced food herself to feign illness, further illustrating the extent of her deception."

When confronted with irrefutable evidence, Rajitha finally confessed. "Upon questioning, Rajitha confessed to murdering the children. She told police that she was married to A Chennaiah (50), a water tanker driver, and was not happy with the marriage. She recently rekindled her friendship with a former classmate, Shiva, during a school reunion. Their friendship soon turned into an affair."

It wasn’t a chance meeting, but a digital reconnection that pushed her further down this path. "During the probe, it was revealed that Rajitha had met old classmates at a school reunion programme. Subsequently, she joined a WhatsApp group, which had her batchmates from her school days as members. Through this group, she grew close to her former classmate Shiva Kumar, and their relationship soon turned into an affair. The two decided to marry, but to do so, they planned to kill Rajitha’s husband and children."

Such revelations shook the local community to its core. This wasn't a random act of violence; it was a carefully planned series of events where technology, deception, and emotional manipulation played a deadly role.

The Aftermath and What It Reveals

"Police have taken Rajitha and Shiva into custody." Both are now behind bars, awaiting their trial. But while legal proceedings are ongoing, the emotional toll on the family and society is already immense.

This incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about the psychological and social factors that could lead to such an act. It underscores the potential consequences of extramarital affairs and the need for support systems to address marital dissatisfaction. The case has also sparked discussions on mental health, the pressures of societal expectations, and the legal ramifications of such crimes.

Rajitha's full name, Avuri Chintala Rajitha alias Lavanya, and her marriage in 2013 during her second year of Intermediate, offer a glimpse into her personal history. The reports also confirm Shiva's role, noting his insistence on a child-free marriage as a catalyst for the crime.