Kurnool, October 13, 2025 – In a long-awaited development that has reignited public outrage over one of Andhra Pradesh's most haunting cold cases, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally taken over the probe into the suspicious 2017 death of 16-year-old Dalit student Sugali Preethi, whose body was found hanging in her school hostel. The handover, directed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu last month, marks the second attempt to involve the federal agency after a previous effort stalled due to the CBI's cited resource constraints. Yet, as investigators gear up, Preethi's mother, Sugali Parvathi, has escalated her decade-long crusade with blistering accusations against politicians she claims exploited her daughter's tragedy for votes, vowing that "justice will not be silenced by political games."
A Tragic End That Sparked Outrage
On August 18, 2017, Preethi, a bright Class 10 student from the marginalized Sugali community, was discovered lifeless in her room at the Social Welfare Residential School in Nandyal, Kurnool district. Authorities initially classified the death as a suicide, pointing to a note allegedly penned by the girl citing exam stress. But Parvathi, a daily wage laborer, rejected the narrative from day one, insisting her daughter—described by teachers as diligent and free of academic woes—had been murdered, possibly after a sexual assault.
The case exploded into a statewide flashpoint, with Parvathi's roadside protests drawing thousands and amplifying demands for a thorough investigation. Three classmates were briefly arrested as suspects but released on bail within weeks, fueling suspicions of a hasty probe. Over the years, Parvathi has alleged tampering with evidence, including the missing suicide note and unexamined forensic samples, while rejecting government aid like land allotments and a job offer as "hush money."
Political Promises and Stalled Justice
The saga intertwined with Andhra's volatile politics. In 2020, under the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime, the government issued GO No. 37 transferring the case to the CBI, fulfilling an electoral pledge. However, by February 2025, the agency declined, citing "lack of resources" and insufficient evidence to warrant federal involvement—a move Parvathi decried as a betrayal.
The tide turned after the TDP-led alliance's 2024 victory. Naidu, who had championed the cause during opposition rallies in Kurnool, swiftly ordered the file's resubmission to the CBI on September 2. By September 26, the case was officially handed over, with officials penning a formal request to CBI Director Praveen Sood. Naidu emphasized the probe's urgency, stating it would "uncover the truth long buried under neglect."
Social media erupted with reactions, from YSRCP supporters mocking the renewed push as "election drama" to TDP backers hailing it as genuine accountability. One viral post accused Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan of "using Preethi's name for political gains" without follow-through.
Mother's Unyielding Accusations
Parvathi's resolve remains unbroken. In a recent interview, the 45-year-old widow expressed gratitude to the YSRCP for past support but unleashed vitriol on Pawan Kalyan, alleging he "milked the tragedy for votes" during campaigns yet "won't even grant an audience now." "They all promised the moon—Naidu, Jagan, Pawan—but my Preethi rots without justice," she lamented, echoing claims of a cover-up involving influential figures.
Activists and Dalit rights groups have rallied behind her, organizing vigils in Kurnool to pressure the CBI for swift action. As the agency assembles a team—potentially re-examining forensics and witness statements—the case underscores systemic failures in addressing atrocities against marginalized girls in India.
Parvathi, clutching faded photos of her daughter, told reporters outside her modest home: "This probe better deliver, or I'll fight till my last breath." With the CBI's involvement, eight years of grief may finally yield answers—or deepen the wounds of a family forever scarred.
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