Srinivas Goud murder plot: How gang conspired to eliminate minister's two confidantes

According to the latest confession statement submitted to the court, eight men, who have been arrested, had 'originally planned' to kill TRS minister and his confidant Hyder Ali because they were nursing a personal grudge.

Sequence of events

The lid was blown off when two men, Farooq Ahmed and Hyder Ali, filed a case at Petbasheerabad falling under Cyberabad police commissionerate on February 23.

The complainants said on December 18, 2021, Mohammed Farooq Ahmed, a resident of Shamshabad went to attend the Excise Court in Mahbubnagar. Outside the court, Raghu and Nagaraju met him and sought some weapons to kill their rival Ghulam Hyder Ali. Farooq Ahmed ignored the request since he knew Ali well. Farooq Ahmed informed Hyder Ali that his life was in danger. He even helped him to shift to the SVS lodge at Suchitra of Kompally.

On February 23, 2022, Farooq and Hyder Ali, who were temporarily residing in a guest house at Suchithra, stepped out to have tea. At around 4 PM the duo was attacked by C Nagaraju and his associate Vardha Yadaiah. Armed with knives, they chased them through the narrow lanes. However, Farooq Ahmed and Hyder Ali escaped. Strangely, no one noticed the incident in bustling Suchitra. The duo fled and filed a complaint with Pedbasheerbagh Police station.

During the investigation, cops had taken C Nagaraju, a collection manager in Dhani Financial services, Bhandekar Vishwanath Rao, and Vardha Yadiah, all from Mahbubnagar, into custody. During interrogation, the trio confessed that they were acting on the behalf of prime accused Raghavendar Raju alias Raghu.

Prime accused C Raghavenar Raju, Chairman of Agriculture market committee, his brothers Nagaraju, Madhusudan, and Amarender run a bar and are into the real-estate business. The family has political clout in Mahbubnagar.

The brothers bore a grudge against Hyder Ali. Ali had created hurdles in their business and supported Srinivas Goud. Therefore, they had planned to eliminate him to regain political grip. The brothers hatched a plan with Vishwanadha Rao and Varada Yadaiah, who purchased weapons from Uttar Pradesh. Nagaraju and Yadaiah approached Farooq, a rowdy sheeter. However, little did they know that Farooq will inform Hyder Ali.

On February 23, when they tried to attack Hyder Ali and Farooq, the accused missed their target and ended up in police custody.

Cyberabad police have registered a case against Chaluvagali Raghavendra Raju (43) and his three brothers, Chaluvagali Madhusudhan Raju (51) Amerender Raju (54), and Chaluvag Nagaraju, all hail from Mahbubnagar. Tilak Thapa, Personal assistant to TRS MP turned BJP Minister A. P Jitender Reddy, Bhandekar Vishwanath Rao (43), and Vardha Yadaiah (52). Munnur Ravi (35) are also been named.

What was the original plan?

Victim Hyder Ali, who escaped the murderous attack, told cops that the gang had planned to eliminate him and his 'political mentor' TRS Minister Srinivas Goud, as they were nursing a personal grudge against them.

Ali told cops that prime accused Raghavendar Raju and his brother Madhusudhan Raju and Munnur Ravi were given accommodation by Thapa in New Delhi. It is to note that Thapa is the personal assistant of TRS MP turned BJP leader A P Jitender Reddy. This information pushed cops into full gear that dashed to Delhi and ended up in a political storm between the TRS and BJP.

According to the confession report, the four brothers and two associates, Yadaiah and Vishwanath Rao approached Farooq multiple times for weapons to kill Srinivas Goud and Hyder Ali. But, little did they know that Farooq would tip off Hyder Ali.

Why did the plan fail?

Petbasheerabad police took three men into custody. During questioning, they revealed the names of the other Raghavender, Thapa, Madhusudhan, and Munnur Ravi. A massive hunt was launched to arrest the accused.

The gang traveled to Mahbubnagar and Vizag. Later they fled to New Delhi. They reportedly hid weapons in the secluded places in Delhi and took shelter in the servant quarters of BJP leader A P Jitender Reddy. The four including Jitender's PA were picked up on March 1.