Telangana police have arrested a man from Maharashtra for allegedly murdering his six-year-old daughter to become eligible to contest gram panchayat elections, in a case that has shocked both states.

Murder linked to election eligibility

The accused, Pandurang Kondamangale, a resident of Kerur village in Maharashtra’s Nanded district, was arrested on Monday for allegedly drowning his daughter Prachi in the Nizamsagar canal in Nizamabad on January 29. Police said the crime was driven by Kondamangale’s political ambitions.

Under Maharashtra law, individuals with more than two children are barred from contesting local body elections. Kondamangale reportedly had three children — twin daughters and a son — making him ineligible.

“Pandurang decided to kill Prachi so that he could contest the gram panchayat election,” a police officer told investigators.

Sarpanch held for aiding plot

Police also arrested the sitting sarpanch of Kerur village, Ganesh Shinde, accusing him of helping plan the murder. Investigators said Shinde allegedly encouraged Kondamangale to contest the upcoming panchayat polls, scheduled in about six months, despite knowing he was disqualified under the two-child norm.

Body found in canal, identity traced via WhatsApp

The crime came to light after Bodhan rural police recovered the body of an unidentified young girl from the Nizamsagar canal. To establish her identity, a constable shared the photograph as a WhatsApp status and circulated it across police stations.

Within hours, police from Mukhed taluk in Maharashtra identified the girl as Prachi, who had been reported missing days earlier.

Confession after phone tracking

When questioned, Kondamangale allegedly gave contradictory answers, raising suspicion. Police tracked his mobile phone tower locations, which showed he had travelled to Telangana with the child. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the crime.

Nizamabad Police Commissioner P Sai Chaitanya said the accused initially tried to give the girl up for adoption. “When that failed, they conspired to kill her. Pandurang pushed the child into the canal and returned home,” he said.

Police have registered a murder case and further investigation is underway.