Hyderabad: How a wife, along with her paramour, killed her husband and passed it off as a heart attack in Medipally

Hyderabad: Rachakonda Police have solved a spousal murder case in Medipally and arrested three persons, including the wife of the deceased.

The trio was allegedly involved in strangulating a 45-year-old logistics manager at his residence in East Brundavan Colony, Boduppal.

Death reported as medical emergency

The case surfaced on December 12, 2025, when J Purnima informed Medipally police that her husband, VJ Ashok, was found unconscious in the washroom of their home and later declared dead at a government hospital in Malkajgiri.

With no immediate suspicion, police initially registered a case of unnatural death and began routine inquiries. Ashok was employed as a Logistics Manager at Srinidhi University.

Suspicious injuries change course of probe

During a post-incident examination, investigators noticed injuries on the cheek and neck of the deceased, raising doubts about the cause of death. This prompted a detailed investigation involving CCTV footage, call data, and other technical evidence, which eventually pointed to homicide.

Three accused arrested

Based on the evidence gathered, police arrested J. Purnima (36), the wife of the deceased, a play school operator, resident of Boduppal. She was named as accused number one in the case.

Paleti Mahesh (22), construction worker, resident of Boduppal, native of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, and Bhukya Sai Kumar alias Sai (22), student, resident of Yadadri district. The duo were named as accused number two and three in the case.

Illicit relationship and murder plot

Police said the investigation revealed that Purnima had developed an illicit relationship with Mahesh, who earlier lived in the same colony. Ashok, suspecting the relationship, had reportedly been questioning and confronting his wife, leading to frequent disputes.

To put an end to the issue, Purnima and Mahesh allegedly conspired to eliminate Ashok and roped in Sai to assist in the crime.

Strangulation inside the house

On December 11, 2025, around 6.15 pm, after Ashok returned home from work, Mahesh and Sai allegedly restrained and assaulted him, while Purnima held his legs. Police said Mahesh strangulated Ashok using three chunnis, causing his death.

Evidence destroyed, death passed off as heart attack

After committing the murder, the accused allegedly changed the clothes of the deceased and disposed of incriminating material to erase evidence. Purnima then misled relatives and others by claiming that Ashok had died due to a heart attack.

Key seizures and legal action

Police seized an iPhone 15, blood-stained chunnis, the deceased’s blood-stained clothes, broken teeth, a pen drive containing incriminating photos and videos, a Passion Pro two-wheeler used in the crime, and blood-stained clothes belonging to A3.

The case was altered from Section 194 BNSS to Sections 103(1) and 238 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). All three accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, the police said.