Daijiworld Media Network – Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Jul 19: The investigation into the death of a software engineer in Hyderabad has taken a dramatic turn, with police launching a search for a temple idol that the woman allegedly carried into a pond before drowning.

The deceased has been identified as Tejaswini. According to police, she allegedly removed her clothes, entered a nearby temple naked, picked up an idol of Goddess Ammavaru and walked to a nearby pond, where she jumped into the water. While her body was later recovered, the idol remains missing.

The Disaster Response Force (DRF) has deployed boats to search the pond for the missing idol, which investigators believe could be a crucial piece of evidence in the case.

As part of the probe, police have questioned Tejaswini's mother, Aruna. Investigators are also examining the woman's alleged death declaration, financial transactions and her movements in the days leading up to the incident.

Police found that Tejaswini had been staying in a rented flat, where she was allegedly paying around Rs 3,500 a day, amounting to nearly Rs 1 lakh a month. During the investigation, officials also discovered that the building's top two floors were allegedly being operated like a lodge. They are probing whether there is any connection between the premises and the woman's death.

Police suspect that Tejaswini died by suicide. However, the exact sequence of events and the motive behind her actions are yet to be established. Investigators are analysing CCTV footage, witness statements and forensic evidence, and have not reached any official conclusion regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.