Hyderabad student found dead in Finland two months after going missing, family seeks probe
An 18-year-old student from Hyderabad, who went missing in Finland in May, has been found dead nearly two months later, Finnish police told the media, even as his family questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and sought a detailed investigation.
Manideep Reddy, a first-year student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Software and Systems Engineering at the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology, was last seen on May 5 in Helsinki after travelling from Lahti by train.
Body recovered from sea in Helsinki
In a statement, Finland Police said a body recovered from the sea in the Kruunuvuorenranta area on July 9 had been identified as that of the missing Indian student.
The identification was confirmed through personal belongings recovered with the body, including Reddy's wallet containing his Finnish identity card, a bank card belonging to his mother and Indian currency.
The National Bureau of Investigation is examining the cause of death. Police said there is currently no suspicion of any crime in the case.
Student vanished after trip to Helsinki
According to investigators, Reddy boarded a train from Lahti to Helsinki at around 5 pm (local time) on May 5.
He was later seen at Helsinki Central Railway Station before visiting a burger outlet in the city centre.
CCTV footage also captured him at a K-Market in the Kruunuvuorenranta area at around 8 pm — the last confirmed sighting before he disappeared.
Family questions official findings
Reddy's family has rejected the possibility of a natural death, alleging that the circumstances are suspicious.
Their lawyer, KLB Kumar, claimed the Finnish authorities had failed to maintain communication with the family after May 29 and alleged that several aspects of the case had not been adequately explained.
"We strongly feel that it is a suspicious death and not a natural death. We demand that the death be investigated properly," Kumar was quoted as saying by NDTV.
He also alleged that Finnish authorities were withholding key information related to the investigation.
Questions over university account activity
In a petition filed before the Telangana High Court last month, Kumar said Finnish investigators had informed the family that Reddy's university account recorded successful logins on May 9 and May 10—several days after his disappearance, NDTV reported.
Authorities reportedly told the family they were examining the devices and IP addresses used to access the account.
The family believes these developments warrant a deeper investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student's disappearance and death.
Final call to mother, parents denied visas
According to the family, Reddy spoke to his mother shortly before he went missing and requested a transfer of Rs 6,000 to his bank account.
Although the money was credited, bank records reportedly show it was never used.
The family also claimed they wanted to travel to Finland to assist in the search but were unable to do so after Finnish authorities rejected their visa applications, citing insufficient proof of financial means and other documentation requirements.
The investigation into the cause of Manideep Reddy's death is ongoing.
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