Published Sep 18, 2026 | 9:09 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 18, 2026 | 9:27 AM
Police identified the deceased as Chittari Haribabu, who had allegedly killed his YouTuber wife Vaishnavi in March 2026.
Synopsis: The deceased man’s brother-in-law, Santosh, later admitted to committing the crime in a video released on social media. Claiming that the act was not premeditated, he sought public support to escape punishment. Santosh’s wife said in another video that he had been disturbed ever since his sister and YouTuber Vaishnavi’s murder in March. Santosh later surrendered to the police.
A man, accused of murdering his pregnant wife a few months ago, was hacked to death in public view in Nizamabad, Telangana, on Thursday, 17 September. The deceased was out on bail.
Police identified the deceased as Chittari Haribabu, who had allegedly killed his YouTuber wife Vaishnavi in March 2026.
The murder was caught on CCTV cameras. The footage showed 27-year-old Haribabu stepping away from his maize stall as a car pulled over across the road around 5 pm. A man got out of the car, crossed the road, and repeatedly hacked Haribabu with a billhook. He died at the scene.
Later in the night, Santosh’s wife released a video on social media. The video showed Santosh admitting to killing his sister’s murderer, and he said he did not want any other woman to meet the same fate. He also said he would surrender to the police and sought public support to evade punishment.
“I waited for justice and thought the government would ensure it. But it did not,” he said. He also said that the murder was not premeditated and that he accidentally spotted Haribabu while in Nizamabad for work.
Reports said Santosh later surrendered before the Korutla police, who took him into custody. Police will hand him over to Nizamabad police.
Meanwhile, the police registered a case naming Santosh as the prime suspect. Police have named two others in the car as co-accused.
Vaishnavi, who ran a YouTube channel and had built a following on social media, hailed from Madhapur village in Jagtial district’s Korutla mandal. In March 2026, she was found dead in a pool of blood at her home, with her throat slit. She was reportedly four months pregnant at the time.
Police said Haribabu and family allegedly harassed her, both mentally and physically, with dowry demands. A heated argument between the two families on the night of 16 March preceded her killing.
Haribabu had fled after the murder and was arrested the same day on the outskirts of Korutla, while his family was also booked over alleged abuse.
Vaishnavi’s sister-in-law shared another video, alongside her husband Santosh’s confession, addressing his actions. She said that Santosh had been mentally disturbed since Vaishnavi’s death and that she had no idea he was planning to go to such an extent. She said her family believed justice had finally been served.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
