Ghatkesar police have arrested four individuals, including three IT professionals, in connection with the death of a colleague during a birthday party at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The deceased has been identified as Gajambikal Ajay Teja, a 24-year-old.
According to the Ghatkesar police, the incident occurred on September 1 at a farmhouse located under the Ghatkesar police station limits in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district. Ajay Teja was reportedly pushed into a swimming pool by two of the accused, Ranjith Reddy and Sai Kumar. The police stated that Ajay became unconscious and was left unattended for 45 minutes before his friends noticed his condition and rushed him to Surya Hospital in Jedimetla, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The four individuals arrested in the case are Ranjith Reddy and Sai Kumar, colleagues of the deceased; Srikanth, the manager of the IT firm where they all worked; and Venkatesh, the owner of the farmhouse where the incident took place.
The investigation revealed that the two prime accused, Ranjith Reddy and Sai Kumar, pushed Ajay Teja into the pool and initially tried to present the incident as an accidental drowning. However, discrepancies in their statements led the police to suspect foul play.
"A case has been registered against his colleagues Ranjith Reddy and Sai Kumar, Manager of the IT firm, Srikanth and Venkatesh, the farmhouse owner," the Ghatkesar police said, adding that they are investigating the exact circumstances that led to Ajay Teja's death.
This incident bears a stark resemblance to a case last year in Mumbai, where a 20-year-old youth was allegedly murdered by four of his friends, two of whom were minors, following a dispute over sharing the food bill during the victim's birthday party.