Bus tickets recovered from the body of Raj Kumar, accused of the murder of six persons, including a minor girl who had earlier filed a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case against him, have provided investigators with a fresh lead in reconstructing his final 63 hours after the killings.

Police said on Tuesday that the tickets were for a bus to LB Nagar. Investigators have identified the bus and are tracing its driver and conductor to establish the accused’s movements after he fled the crime scene.

The investigation continued a day after Raj Kumar’s body, along with an empty one-litre herbicide bottle, was found in a remote area of Penjerla village near Kothur, around 20 km from his residence in Daivalaguda village. Police suspect he died by suicide.

A senior police officer said the accused’s mobile phone, recovered from the body, had remained switched off, making it difficult to trace his movements through location data.

“The biggest question before us is where he stayed during the days he remained absconding. Thirteen teams conducted extensive searches at hotels, lodges, railway stations and all possible escape routes, but he was not found. We are now trying to establish his movements during that period,” the officer said.

Police said the investigation would continue despite the death of the sole accused so that the case reaches its logical conclusion.

Police said the accused later abandoned the vehicle near Thimmapur village and is believed to have boarded a bus to LB Nagar. His movements after that remain under investigation.

Officials said that after completing the investigation they would submit a final report before the court instead of a chargesheet, as the sole accused in the case has died.

Meanwhile, police along with the Chevella Municipality conducted Raj Kumar’s last rites at the local cremation ground in Shabad mandal late on Monday night after his family refused to claim the body following the postmortem at Chevella Government Hospital.

The Telangana government has also extended support to the sole survivor of the family, a differently abled girl. Officials handed over financial assistance of ₹10 lakh and offered admission to a rehabilitation institution in Hyderabad for her long-term care. The family has been given three options, including one in Secunderabad, before deciding on her admission.

Published - July 14, 2026 09:05 pm IST