Hyderabad BSc Student And YouTuber Found Dead In Rented Flat; Police Probe Personal Distress Angle

A 21-year-old BSc student who also ran a YouTube channel was found dead in a rented flat in Hyderabad on Monday, prompting police to register a case of suspicious death. Preliminary investigation suggested that the student may have been under personal distress, with officers now collecting digital and physical evidence to understand the circumstances leading to the incident.

The student was identified as Bonu Komali, a native of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Komali had been living alone in Hyderabad for nearly 11 months while pursuing a BSc degree at a private college. Alongside academic commitments, Komali regularly posted lifestyle and personal content on YouTube as a part-time activity.

According to police, Komali's mother, B Satya Varalakshmi, who works in Kuwait, received a message from her in the early hours of Monday. In the message, Komali expressed affection and requested that her younger brother be taken care of. Soon after, Komali's phone was found switched off, and repeated attempts to contact her failed.

Alarmed by the lack of response, her mother reached out to one of Komali's friends in Hyderabad and requested a welfare check. The friend visited the apartment later in the afternoon and, after receiving no response despite repeated knocking, forced open the latch around 3 pm. Komali was then found hanging from a ceiling fan inside the room.

Police said initial enquiries pointed towards emotional strain linked to a long-term relationship. Komali had reportedly been in a relationship for nearly three years with a 27-year-old software engineer who was also associated with YouTube. Investigators were told that the couple had recently separated, and the breakup is being examined as a possible contributing factor.

Officers also learnt that Komali had allegedly attempted suicide about six months ago. A saree and a ladder were recovered from the room during the inspection. The body was shifted to Osmania General Hospital for post-mortem examination, and further medical findings are awaited.

Police are currently analysing call records, text messages and social media activity, along with statements from friends and neighbours, as part of an ongoing investigation. Officials said the post-mortem report and digital evidence will help establish the sequence of events that led to Komali's death.