Advocate’s murder in Moinabad: Lawyers claim cops ignored threats, failed to act on complaints

Hyderabad: Members of the legal community took to the streets on Thursday to demand justice for Swapna Kumari, a 34-year-old advocate whose brutal murder on Wednesday has sparked a firestorm of criticism against local law enforcement.

Led by THCAA President A Jagan, prominent advocates, including Polasa Shankar, KV Rama Rao, and Katakam Sharada, gathered in a show of solidarity, alleging that the police’s ‘minimal competence’ and failure to act on prior warnings led directly to the tragedy.

How a tragedy foretold

The horrific incident occurred on Wednesday morning, February 4, in Kethireddypally, Moinabad. Swapna Kumari, a practising advocate at the Chevella court, was visiting an ancestral plot of land to survey a long-standing property dispute with her brother, G Raju.

According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, Raju allegedly rammed his vehicle into Swapna before attacking her with a stone. An associate then reportedly slit her throat in full view of her mother, Venkatamma.

The legal community’s outrage stems from the fact that this was not the first attempt on her life. Here’s a timeline of how the case developed:

- November 6, 2025: A complaint was filed after a car intentionally hit Swapna’s scooter.

- January 12: A second complaint was lodged alleging someone tried to run her over with a bulldozer.

Despite Swapna explicitly naming her brother as a suspect in these previous attempts, advocates claim the Moinabad police failed to provide protection or conduct a thorough investigation, leaving her vulnerable to the fatal attack.

Key demands from the legal fraternity

The protesters have declared that the murder was ‘entirely preventable’ and have put forward a list of non-negotiable demands to the state authorities:

- Immediate Suspensions: The removal of all police officers responsible for ignoring the victim’s repeated complaints and failing to provide protection.

- Legal Action: The initiation of both criminal proceedings and departmental disciplinary actions against the negligent officers.

- Systemic Overhaul: Urgent institutional reforms to change how police respond to threats against advocates and citizens.

- Accountability: A transparent investigation into why the earlier FIRs did not lead to preventive detention or heightened security for the victim.

“We are demanding accountability. This isn’t just about one case; it’s about a systemic failure in how our protectors respond to the very people who uphold the law,” stated THCAA President Jagan during the demonstration.

Police have since taken Raju and three associates into custody. However, the legal fraternity maintains that the arrest of the perpetrators is only half the battle; the ‘culpable negligence’ of the police force must also be addressed to ensure such a tragedy never recurs.