A shocking killing in Telangana’s Nizamabad district has brought a suspected revenge angle to the fore after a 26-year-old man, who was accused of murdering his four-month-pregnant wife, was hacked to death in broad daylight. Police are investigating whether the attack was carried out as retaliation for the woman’s death.
The victim has been identified as Chittari Haribabu, the police said. He was attacked at around 5 pm near a roadside restaurant and three or four people came in a car there. One of the accused allegedly got out of the car and attacked Haribabu with a knife that is used for cutting coconuts.
Haribabu’s neck and head were reportedly targeted and he was heavily injured, police said. He died at the scene before he could reach medical help. The attack, which took place in a public area and was reported to have happened at the time of day, has led to speculation about the circumstances of the attack.
Haribabu was already arrested in connection with the death of his wife, YouTuber Gandham Vaishnavi. Vaishnavi was found dead at her residence in Jagtial district on March 17. Her family had claimed that she was harassed as a result of dowry demands. Haribabu was then arrested by police in connection with the case.
The accused man was later released on bail in July. His death has now added another violent chapter to a case that had already drawn attention because of the circumstances surrounding Vaishnavi’s death.
Police are investigating whether Vaishnavi’s family members or even people close to her were behind the attack, he said. Santosh, her brother, has now emerged as a suspect. A selfie video circulated on social media supposedly shows Santosh claiming responsibility for Haribabu's killing.
But police have not yet independently confirmed the authenticity of the video. Police will analyze the footage, determine when and where it was recorded and if the person seen in it is indeed Santosh. The identities and roles of the other people who were there are also under investigation, police said.
In the purported video, the man said he killed Haribabu because he believed him to be responsible for his sister’s death. He also said he was going to surrender to the authorities. These allegations are still being assessed and cannot be verified as a source of responsibility for the killing by police.
🚨 MAN ACCUSED IN PREGNANT WIFE’S MURDER KILLED IN TELANGANA
— contentkikamii (@contentkikamii) September 18, 2026
On September 17, 26-year-old Chittari Haribabu was attacked at Rajarajendra Chowrasta in Nizamabad, Telangana. CCTV footage captured the attack and he died at the scene.
Haribabu was out on bail in the murder case of… pic.twitter.com/DIbxTfyxbD
The case has raised the possibility of a revenge killing, but investigators will need to establish the sequence of events, identify all those involved and determine the exact motive behind the attack. Police are searching for suspects and gathering evidence from the crime scene and surrounding areas.
Investigators might also be able to use CCTV footage from the area, witness accounts and other evidence to reconstruct the attack. The viral video will also be checked to see if it is linked to the killing.
The attack occurred months after Vaishnavi’s death and after Haribabu was released on bail which makes the circumstances of the attack a key part of the investigation. While revenge is a matter of conjecture, the real motive and responsibility will finally be established through the police investigation and the subsequent legal proceedings.
For now, investigators are searching for the individuals allegedly involved in the broad-daylight attack and trying to figure out the reason for Haribabu’s killing. The case is still under investigation.
