A welder was taken into custody on Thursday, for branding his stepson with cigarette butts at Kanigiri in Prakasam district.
According to sub-inspector Bheem Naik, Shaik Fareed Basha (30) had married a widow Shaik Bibi 2 years ago after the death of his first wife. The couple were residents of Kanigiri.
Shaik Bibi was blessed with a child, Shaik Saleem (8), from her first marriage.
According to Fareed's neighbour's his animosity towards his stepson had, over the past 2 years, grown to such an extent that he had started to derive sadistic pleasure by torturing the boy. His wife had no option other than putting up with his sadism or walk out of the marriage, they claim.
Fareed had been warned by the neighbours against torturing the boy but he was brazen enough not to mend his ways.
The neighbours were particularly aghast at Fareed's torture on Thursday, after he had burnt the boy's forehead with cigarette butts and beat him up mercilessly.
The neighbours informed the police and media persons.
Police have registered a case under sections 323 and 324 IPC against Basha, and have taken up further investigations.