Motivated by affair, mother kills her three children

By Sumesh Rajan | April 03, 2025

Hyderabad, India: A shocking case of premeditated murder has emerged from Ameenpur mandal in Sangareddy district of Telengana state of India, where a woman identified as Rajitha, allegedly took the lives of her three children to pursue a relationship with her lover.

The horrifying incident, initially thought to be a case of food poisoning, was later exposed as a calculated crime.

On March 27, Rajitha, a 30-year-old teacher, arrived at the hospital claiming she and her three children -- 12-year-old Sai Krishna, 10-year-old Madhu Priya, and eight-year-old Gautam -- had fallen ill after consuming curd rice. Tragically, by the time medical help arrived, the children were already dead, while Rajitha appeared to be in distress. Her husband, A. Chennaiah, and neighbors were left in shock.

What started as a medical emergency soon turned into a murder investigation when inconsistencies in Rajitha’s account surfaced. Within a week, police uncovered a disturbing truth -- Rajitha had allegedly suffocated her children in a bid to start a new life with her former classmate, Sooru Shiva Kumar.

Affair Turns Deadly

According to Sangareddy DSP Paritosh Pankaj, Rajitha had been unhappy in her marriage to Chennaiah, a 50-year-old water tanker driver. Chennaiah had lost his first wife during childbirth and married Rajitha in 2013, building a family together. However, Rajitha reportedly harboured resentment toward her marital life.

A chance reconnection with Shiva, a private firm employee, during a school reunion reignited a relationship between the two. Their conversations soon turned into an affair, and Rajitha expressed her wish to marry him. However, Shiva was unwilling to commit unless she was free from her current family obligations, leading Rajitha to plan the unthinkable.

The Night of the Murders

With Chennaiah away for work, Rajitha put her plan into action on the night of March 27. At around 6 PM, she confirmed her intentions with Shiva over a phone call. Encouraged by him, she proceeded to carry out the crime. One by one, she allegedly smothered her children using a towel, pressing it tightly over their noses and mouths until they stopped breathing.

Once the gruesome act was complete, Rajitha staged the scene to make it appear as though the children had lost consciousness due to food poisoning. When Chennaiah returned home later that night, she feigned illness, claiming that she too had fallen sick after dinner. In a desperate attempt to save his family, Chennaiah rushed her to the hospital, unaware that his children had already perished.

Investigation Unravels the Truth

Suspicion arose when autopsy reports showed no traces of food poisoning. Under intense police interrogation, Rajitha eventually confessed, revealing her affair with Shiva and the sinister motive behind her actions. Authorities confirmed that Shiva was aware of the plan, making him complicit in the crime. Both Rajitha and Shiva were taken into custody and face charges of murder.

Shiva hails from Nalgonda district, while Rajitha is originally from Thalakondapalli in Rangareddy. Law enforcement officials continue their investigation, ensuring that justice is served for the three innocent lives lost in this harrowing case.