SoM
Mysore, May 12: The College Principal from Andhra Pradesh, who was hiding in the city along with his girl student, was arrested last evening.
Venkataiah (40), Principal of CLR College in Mehbubnagar district, Andhra Pradesh, was arrested at a lodge and the minor girl Shobharani (17), daughter of Nageshaji, a resident of Telakapalli Police Quarters, was rescued.
Venkataiah, who stayed along with the girl in NKF Lodge near St. Philomena's Church, all of a sudden informed the lodge owner at 10.15 pm yesterday that he was checking out. The Lodge Manager, who grew suspicious about his behaviour, immediately informed the Lashkar Police.
The Lodge Manager could recognise them as he had seen their photograph along with a news report in yesterday's Mysooru Mithra and SOM.
Lashkar Inspector T.B. Rajanna rushed to the lodge and took both of them into custody.
Venkataiah, in his statement to the Police, is learnt to have explained that he is the son of one Gundalu, a resident of B.R. Ambedkar Colony in Telakapalli and working as the Principal of Chimmarla Lachma Reddy Junior College. His student Shobharani started loving him since one month. Although he tried his best to convince her that he could not accept her offer as he was already married, he failed in his effort.
Suicide bid
She even attempted suicide on two occasions by consuming poison on May 1 and May 3. As a last effort, he even suggested her to marry another boy sometime later as she was still a minor. But it seemed that she had not lost her love for him and survived suicide attempts after battling for life. After these happenings, he was left with no choice, other than this step to save her.
Venkataiah disclosed that they together left Andhra Pradesh by bus on the morning of May 9 and reached Mysore by evening. They took an auto and hired a room in NKF lodge.
Inspector Rajanna immediately informed the matter to Shobharani's parents as well as Telakapalli Police. Andhra Police, who had come to the city in search of them, had returned to Bangalore only yesterday morning. They were also informed.
Venkataiah married one Padma on Dec. 9, 1999. But the couple were issueless even after years of marriage following which the couple quarrelled frequently, according to Venkataiah.
The Police, who registered a case of kidnapping a minor girl against Venkataiah, have begun investigation. Venkataiah and Shobharani were seen in relaxed mood, not showing any signs of concern in the Police Station.
Andhra Police, after discovering their whereabouts by constantly following mobile phone network signals, had suspected that they stayed in Mysore. But as the two were not immediately traced, the AP Police were on their way back. The Principal and the girl were taken to Andhra at 5 am today in a car by AP Police.