Love Jihad in Godavari family tragedy: Rifle coach Sheikh Sadhik accused of harassing Hindu family, forcing them into suicide
A 61-year-old Panchayat Raj assistant engineer, his wife and daughter died after allegedly jumping into the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, while the family"s 10-year-old grandson survived.
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A case involving allegations of harassment, threats, extortion and forced religious conversion has emerged following the deaths of a family in Andhra Pradesh, with rifle shooting coach Sheikh Sadhik Khan at the centre of the investigation.
According to the suicide note recovered during the investigation, Thillapudi Nookaraju alleged that Khan had been harassing his daughter Sowjanya after the death of her husband, Jagdish Reddy.
(Image : India Today)
Nookaraju alleged that the family had rejected Khan's offers and taken back their possessions. He further alleged that Khan threatened to kill him and his grandson after the family refused him.
The family subsequently took the extreme step, according to the suicide note, because they could not bear the alleged harassment faced by Sowjanya.
What the family alleged in the suicide note
The suicide note found in the family's car is a key part of the investigation.
Nookaraju allegedly wrote that Khan had been harassing Sowjanya after her husband Jagdish Reddy died. The family had allegedly rejected Khan's offers and taken back their possessions.
According to the note, Khan then allegedly threatened Nookaraju and his grandson with death.
Nookaraju said the family could no longer bear the alleged torment being faced by his daughter and decided to take the extreme step.
Based on the suicide note and the statement attributed to the surviving 10-year-old boy, police charged Khan with abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The family had known Khan for two years
According to the information available in the case, Khan had known the family for around two years.
The family's 10-year-old boy was reportedly attending Khan's shooting academy to learn rifle shooting.
Khan's alleged association with the family came under scrutiny after the deaths, particularly following the allegations contained in the suicide note.
The case also widened after a separate complaint was filed over the death of Sowjanya's husband, Jagdish Reddy.
What happened on the Godavari bridge
The incident took place on the intervening night of August 16 and 17 in Andhra Pradesh.
Panchayat Raj assistant engineer Thillapudi Nookaraju, 61, his wife Meena, 58, daughter Sowjanya, 38, and his 10-year-old grandson jumped into the Godavari River from the road cum rail bridge in Rajamahendravaram.
A woman jumped into the Godavari with her family, leaving three dead. Her 10-year-old son was the sole survivor.
— OpIndia.com (@OpIndia_com) August 26, 2026
A suicide note allegedly named rifle shooting coach Sadhik Khan and accused him of harassment and threats.
After a five-state manhunt, police tracked Khan down and…
The 10-year-old boy was later found unconscious and rescued by fishermen.
Nookaraju, Meena and Sowjanya died in the incident, and their bodies were recovered.
The deaths led to an investigation into the circumstances that allegedly drove the family to take the extreme step.
Separate complaint over Sowjanya’s husband’s death
The allegations against Khan do not relate only to the family's suicide.
Bhaskar Reddy, the father of Sowjanya's late husband Jagdish Reddy, filed a separate complaint alleging that Khan was responsible for his son's death.
Reddy alleged that Jagdish had been injected with a toxin that caused his death.
He said he came to know about these details after speaking to his grandson.
According to Reddy's complaint, Khan began visiting the family home after Jagdish's death and attempted to become closer to Sowjanya.
Following the complaint, a case was registered at Sarpavaram police station in Kakinada.
Khan accused of extortion and forced conversion
The allegations against Khan also include extortion and forced religious conversion.
The material in the case states that Khan was charged in connection with these allegations along with the case relating to the deaths of the family members.
These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established as findings by a court.
Five-state search leads police to Meerut
After the allegations emerged, police launched a search for Khan.
According to police, nearly 10 teams tracked his movements across five states.
Investigators used technical evidence and human intelligence to locate him.
Police traced Khan to Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, where he had reportedly taken shelter at a friend's house.
Police said Khan had been avoiding the use of his phone and was making purchases online in an attempt to avoid detection.
He was eventually arrested in Meerut and brought to Andhra Pradesh under a transit warrant after appearing before a court.
Former MP seeks CBI or NIA investigation
Former MP Vijayasai Reddy has called for an independent probe by either the CBI or NIA, alleging that the case could involve a wider conspiracy.
Reddy has accused Khan of being part of a 10-member gang allegedly involved in extortion, gun supply, religious conversions and anti-national activities.
He further alleged that the group had targeted around 15 other families in and around Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada.
These claims have been made by Reddy and are not established findings of the investigation described in the available material.
Investigation continues
Police are now examining the suicide note, the statement attributed to the surviving 10-year-old boy and the separate complaint concerning Jagdish Reddy's death.
The arrest of Sheikh Sadhik Khan is a major development in the investigation into the deaths of Nookaraju, Meena and Sowjanya.
The case involves allegations of harassment, threats, extortion and forced religious conversion, along with claims concerning Jagdish Reddy's death. Further investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding these allegations and Khan's alleged role in them.