The horrific rape and murder of a minor girl in Madanapalle, which had sent shockwaves across the Telugu states, reached a grim conclusion with the death of the accused, Kulavardhan. After allegedly committing the heinous crime on Tuesday, the suspect initially escaped from police custody while being transported to the station. This led to a massive manhunt involving special police teams, drones, and dog squads. On Wednesday morning, February 18, 2026, his body was found floating in a local pond. District SP Dhiraj confirmed that the accused committed suicide, likely out of fear of legal consequences and public wrath.
The news of Kulavardhan’s death triggered spontaneous celebrations among the residents of Madanapalle. Locals, who had been protesting on the streets demanding immediate justice for the young girl, expressed a sense of relief, stating that “the monster met his rightful end.” People were seen bursting crackers and distributing sweets to mark the death of the man who had brutally snuffed out a child’s life. The victim’s mother also responded to the news, stating with raw emotion that had he remained alive, she would have killed him herself for the cruelty he inflicted on her daughter.
While the physical threat from the accused has ended, the legal formalities continue as the police shifted his body to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination. The case has highlighted the intense public pressure on the administration regarding crimes against children. Authorities are now focusing on completing the investigation to provide a sense of closure to the grieving family, while the community remains in a state of mourning for the innocent life lost, balanced by the belief that divine justice was served swiftly.
