HYDERABAD: A software engineer from the Mancherial district has been accused of deceiving a woman by pretending to marry her and later abandoning her. The accused, identified as Sai Praneeth (26), was working in Bengaluru when he met the woman, who was employed at a clinic. Both stayed in the same hostel, leading to their acquaintance.
Their friendship deepened after the woman had to visit her hometown in Odisha due to her father’s health issues. Sai Praneeth frequently called her to check on her well-being, and over time, their bond turned into a romantic relationship.
During a trip to Kerala, he allegedly applied sindoor on her forehead, making her believe they were married. In 2023, they visited Shirdi, where he introduced her to his parents, further strengthening her trust in him.
In 2024, both moved to Hyderabad for work and rented a flat in Jubilee Hills, where they lived together. However, in November last year, Sai Praneeth left for Mancherial, claiming his sister’s wedding had been arranged. When he did not return, the woman confronted him, only to be told that their relationship was over and he demanded Rs 20 lakh to move on.
Realizing she had been deceived, the woman approached the police. Based on her complaint, Jubilee Hills police registered a case of sexual assault and began an investigation.
