Hyderabad teen found dead in Finland months after going missing; family alleges foul play

Hyderabad: The body of an 18-year-old Hyderabad student who disappeared in Finland nearly two months ago has been recovered from the sea in Helsinki, bringing a tragic end to a case that had sparked desperate appeals from his family. Even as authorities informed the Indian Embassy about the recovery, the student's family has questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and demanded a comprehensive investigation.

The deceased has been identified as Manideep Reddy, who had travelled to Finland to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Software and Systems Engineering at Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT University). He was studying at the university's Lahti campus and was living in student accommodation in Lahti.

According to information shared with the family through the Indian Embassy in Finland, Finnish authorities recovered Manideep's body from the sea in Helsinki. The embassy conveyed the development to his relatives via email on Friday, family counsel KLB Kumar said on Saturday.

The teenager was reported missing after he was last seen at a shopping mall in Helsinki on May 5. His disappearance had prompted repeated appeals from his family, who said they struggled for updates despite approaching multiple authorities.

Following the confirmation of his death, the family has raised questions about the investigation and said they do not believe the case should be treated as a routine or natural death.

Speaking on behalf of the family, advocate KLB Kumar alleged that several aspects of the case remain unexplained and claimed the investigation conducted so far was inadequate. He said the recovery of the body nearly two months after Manideep went missing has only deepened the family's concerns.

"We have many doubts. After two months, the body has been recovered. We strongly feel that it is a suspicious death and not a natural death," Kumar said

The family has also appealed to the Central government to facilitate the parents' travel to Finland so they can identify the body, meet the concerned authorities and seek clarity about the investigation.

According to Kumar, Finnish police initially shared periodic updates after the missing-person case was registered. However, he alleged that communication with the family stopped after May 29, despite repeated emails and phone calls seeking information.

Manideep's father, Gujja Muthyam Reddy, had earlier expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the authorities. He had said a friend of his son from Delhi lodged a complaint with Finnish police on the family's request after the student went missing.

The family maintains that several questions remain unanswered, including the events that unfolded after Manideep was last seen in Helsinki. They have urged authorities to conduct a detailed investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the student's death.

The Finnish authorities have not publicly announced any findings regarding the cause of death. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.

With PTI inputs