HYDERABAD: A three-month pregnant woman, Sunitha (29), was brutally hacked to death inside her Hyderabad home in Vanasthalipuram on Wednesday by her ex-husband, Devarakonda Mahesh.Armed with knives, a chainsaw, and a bottle of petrol, Mahesh reportedly tracked her residential address via social media before carrying out the attack, police said.The accused held a grudge against Sunitha for her remarriage and blamed her for his mother’s death.“He developed a grudge against her and decided to eliminate her. He managed to locate her residential address through her social media account and came to Hyderabad two months ago, staying in a hostel. He also ‘recceed’ the victim’s apartment recently,” police said.The couple, both software professionals who had briefly lived in Canada, divorced in 2024. Sunitha had earlier filed a domestic violence complaint against Mahesh, following which a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.Police said Mahesh believed that he and his family faced mental suffering due to the case and even blamed Sunitha for his mother’s death.What Happened Inside the ApartmentVanasthalipuram police said Mahesh barged into Sunitha’s fourth-floor apartment at Green City Colony around noon on Wednesday, went straight to her room, and locked it from inside.He was carrying a bag containing two knives, a bottle of petrol, and a chainsaw.“Mahesh got into a heated argument with her and, within minutes, attacked Sunitha with the knives. He stabbed her multiple times on various parts of her body, including her head,” said T Mahesh, inspector, Vanasthalipuram.After Killing Ex-Wife, Accused Pours Petrol, Threatens To Set Room on FireHearing Sunitha’s screams, other family members rushed to her room and found her lying in a pool of blood. By then, the accused had locked himself in the washroom, the inspector added.At the time of the attack, Sunitha’s mother-in-law was on the terrace drying clothes, while her brother-in-law was working in another room. Sunitha had been working from home.After being informed by family members and neighbors, police reached the spot and found that Mahesh had poured petrol in the room, which he had brought in a can, and threatened to set it on fire with a lighter. After being convinced by police officials, he came out of the washroom and was taken into custody, a police official said.Troubled Marriage And GrudgeSunitha and Mahesh married in 2022 and moved to Canada. From the beginning, their relationship was strained. In 2024, Sunitha filed for divorce and returned to India. In early 2025, she remarried and began living in Vanasthalipuram.“Last year, Mahesh returned to India after his mother passed away. He was intercepted by police at the airport as a LOC had been issued in his name in connection with a pending domestic violence case filed by Sunitha. His passport was seized,” said B Anuradha, DCP, L B Nagar.“Since he could not return to Canada because of the LOC, he was disappointed. He also held a grudge against Sunitha for remarrying and wanted to seek revenge,” the DCP added.A case of murder has been filed against him, and the investigation is ongoing.
