A 27-year-old software engineer was found dead under suspicious circumstances during a weekend office get-together at a farmhouse in Telangana's Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, prompting police to launch a detailed investigation into the incident.
The deceased has been identified as Gandla Ramu, a native of Mancherial district, who was employed with a software company in Hyderabad's Ramanthapur area, NDTV reported.
Found Unconscious In Swimming Pool
According to police, Ramu had attended a weekend party along with around 15 office colleagues and their team leader at a farmhouse in the Choutuppal area.
The group reportedly began the gathering on Saturday evening and continued the celebrations late into the night.
After midnight, Ramu was found unconscious in the swimming pool located on the farmhouse premises. His colleagues immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead, the report said.
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Injuries Raise Suspicion
After being informed about the incident, Choutuppal police reached the farmhouse and shifted the body for postmortem examination.
During the preliminary investigation, officers noticed injuries on Ramu's body, raising suspicion about the circumstances surrounding his death.
The presence of injuries has prompted investigators to examine whether the death was accidental or the result of foul play.
Family Alleges Murder
Ramu's family has alleged that he was murdered and demanded a thorough investigation into the case.
Based on a complaint lodged by his father, G. Anjaiah, police have registered a murder case and begun questioning all those who attended the party.
"We have registered a case based on the complaint filed by the deceased's father. All angles are being investigated, and the exact cause of death will be known only after the postmortem report is received," NDTV quoted Choutuppal Inspector N. Manmadha Rao as saying.
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No CCTV Footage Available
Investigators face an additional challenge as the farmhouse reportedly did not have CCTV cameras installed.
The absence of surveillance footage has made it difficult for police to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to Ramu being found in the swimming pool.
Police are currently recording statements from all party attendees and examining their versions to establish what transpired during the gathering.
Forensic Reports Awaited
Officials said forensic evidence and the postmortem report will play a crucial role in determining the exact cause of death.
Police have not ruled out any angle and are continuing their probe into whether the software engineer's death was accidental, caused by negligence, or the result of a criminal act.
Further action in the case is expected once the forensic and postmortem findings are received.