Vizag: Missing photographer Sai Kumar murdered in Konaseema; 2 held
Sai Kumar set out to Ravulapalem with his photography equipment worth Rs 15 lakh on Feb 26 but went missing
By Newsmeter Network Published on 4 March 2024 2:44 AM GMT
Visakhapatnam: A missing photographer from Visakhapatnam was found murdered in Ravulapalem of Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district.
The incident came to light on Sunday. The motive for the crime was to rob his expensive photography equipment.
Identified as Pothina Sai Vijay Pawan Kalyan Kumar aka Sai Kumar, a resident of Bakkanapalem under PM Palem police station limits in Vizag, he was known for taking wedding and other event photography,
Sai Kumar received a client Shanmukh Teja, who befriended Sai on the social media platform Instagram. Shanmukh was aware that Sai has high-end photography equipment which costs over Rs 15 lakh. Shanmukh informed Sai that there was a massive photography event in Ravulapalem which would fetch a good amount.
Sai Kumar informed his parents about his trip to Ravulapalem and set out with his photography equipment on Feb 26. However, upon reaching Rajahmundry, Shanmukh and his friend Raju took Sai in a car to Vemagiri location.
Suspecting that he was in danger, Sai Kumar shared the registration number of the car and Shanmukh’s contact number with his parents. Alarmed by their son’s disappearance for more than three days, Sai Kumar’s parents filed a missing complaint with the PM Palem police in Vizag city on February 29.
PM Palem police traced call data records and they took the support of the Alamuru police, leading to the arrest of Shanmukha Teja (19) and Raju in connection with the murder. Investigation revealed that Sai was murdered by Shanmukha Teja and Raju and the body was buried near Jonnada. Police with the support of the Revenue department officials exhumed the body on Sunday and a team of medical experts conducted an autopsy on the spot.
The police seized the photography equipment from the residence of Shanmukh Teja.
Vizag City police chief Dr A Ravi Shankar said that they have arrested two youth in connection with Sai Kumar’s murder and the motive behind the murder was the robbery of the photography equipment.
