Kothagudem suicide: Third case against TRS MLA's son, family speaks up

Bhadradri Kothagudem: Five days after the suicide of Mandagi Naga Ramakrishna and his family, his brother-in-law Y Janardhan recalled the mental torture they faced prior to the incident.

Janardhan said he was aware of the family's financial crisis but never thought that they would take such a drastic step.

"This is not just about the MLA's son. Of course, he did a lot of damage, but Ramakrishna's mother and sister too had harassed him when he was in dire need of money and demanded a share in the family property," Janardhan said.

Janardhan was not aware that MLA's son was involved in the settlement of the family dispute between Ramakrishna and his mother, sister.

Ramakrishna set himself and his wife on fire after immolating twin daughters in Palvoncha town in Khammam district on January 3.

In a suicide note and video left by Ramakrishna, he held TRS MLA Vanama Venkateshwara Rao's son Vanama Raghavendra Rao responsible for suicide. He said he was harassed by his mother Satyawati and sister K Madhavi.

Kothagudem police filed a case the same day on Vanama Raghavendra Rao, Satyawathi, and Madhavi. Superintendent of police Sunil Dutt said the primary accused in the case- Vanama Raghavendra Rao was on the run and that the police are searching for him. He said teams have been deployed outside Kothagudem as well.

Kothagudem Assistant Superintendent of Police, Rohit Raj said that two other cases under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) and Section 307 (attempt to murder) have been filed against MLA Vanama Venkateshwara Rao's son Vanama Raghavendra Rao in the last two years in Palvoncha.

Ramakrishna's second daughter, who had received 80 percent burns and was admitted to the hospital, passed away on Thursday, confirmed Janardhan. "Her grandmother and aunt- Ramakrishna's mother and sister did not even bother to come and check on Sahithi," Janardhan said.

He alleged that when the incident occurred on the morning of January 3 and several neighbors rushed to put down the fire, Ramakrishna's mother Suryavathi showed no sign of remorse. "In fact, she was telling the people to better let them die," he alleged.

Janardhan hoped that the family's souls rest in peace and the accused are caught soon.