Although the police investigation relies heavily on the complaint filed by Raju, the referral report does not directly attribute a religious or caste motive to the crime. The remand report filed in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, however, reads: “This is a case of the ‘brutal murder’ of the deceased who belongs to the SC Mala community by defendants A1 and A2 of the community Muslim…”

According to the investigation, the police say that the defendant Mobin Ahmed confessed to knowing in 2021 that his younger sister Sultana was in love with Nagaraju of Mala caste and resident of Marpally.

The police investigation reveals that Ahmed “developed a grudge” towards Nagaraju after Sultana refused to leave him even after her family approached Mominpet police stating that she had disappeared from her home.

The investigation revealed that the accused digitally tracked Nagaraju’s phone as he knew her mobile number, email id and password. The digital ID and phone number were used to track his phone on the “Find My Phone” app. According to the police investigation, Ahmed tried to track Nagaraju’s movements using the app even a month before the murder, but failed.

As Nagaraju and Sultana were returning from their relative Lingam’s home in Saroornagar to their nearby rental house, the defendants allegedly arrested and attacked them.

Police recovered the iron bar and knife which was allegedly used to beat and stab Nagaraju. The telephones of the defendants were also seized during the interrogations. Police have registered cases under ICC Section 302 (murder) and the Prevention of Atrocities (Scheduled Castes and Tribes) Act 1989.