Telangana lawyer couple murder: Ex-TRS MLA's relative Bittu Srini picked up

Hyderabad: In an extensive investigation into the brutal murder of lawyer couple, Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife PV Nagamani, Ramagundam police picked up Bittu Srinu for his alleged involvement.

The couple was hacked to death in broad daylight at Ramagiri near Ramagundam in the Peddapalli district of Telangana. The duo practised law at the Telangana High Court in Hyderabad. In his dying declaration, the lawyer accused Kunta Srinivas, a Ex-TRS functionary, of the murder.

The cops booked Veldi Vasantha Rao, Kunta Srinivas and Akkapaka Kumar under Sections 120 (b), 341, 302, and 34 under the Indian Penal Code.

Inspector General of Police Nagi Reddy speaking to NewsMeter said, "In the entire episode Kunta Srinivas is the primary accused. An infighting between Srinivas and Vaman Rao resulted in the murder. The two caught on camera attacking the couple are Srinivas and another accused Chiranjeevi, while Akkapaka Kumar followed the victim's vehicle. After the offence Kumar escaped in a car. However it was Bittu Srinu, a relative of former MLA arranged for the car and weapons".

Bittu Srinu is a relative of former TRS MLA Putta Madhu from Manthani assembly constituency of Telangana

The officer further added, "Vaman Rao had filed petitions against the illegal construction of Kunta Sriniva's house resulting in a notice to stop the works. Also a conflict with regard a temple committee flared up the issue. Kunta Srinivas supported people who were opposing Vaman Rao's brother, the lone standing temple committee member".

Murder

According to the cops, Veldi Vasantha Rao conspired with Kunta Srinivas and Akkapaka Kumar to kill the couple. On February 17, when the couple were travelling to Hyderabad after attending Manthani court in their car, they were stopped by Kunta Srinivas and Akkapaka near the outskirts of Kalvacherla village. The couple was attacked with sickles due to which they received severe bleeding injuries. They succumbed while being shifted to a hospital in Peddapalli under Ramagundam.

The investigation found that the murder was about a grudge related to illegal house construction of Kunta Srinivas in Gunjapadugu village, the police said.

Meanwhile, The Telangana State Human Rights Commission on February 18 took suo motu cognizance of the murder. The commission asked the Director-General of Police of Telangana to submit a report by March 10. "Such types of crimes need to be curbed for the sake of law and order otherwise society will not have peace at all," said the commission.

It is the duty of the state to identify and watch over all areas where crimes are prevalent, noted the commission.

A division bench of the Telangana High Court has also taken suo motu cognizance of the murder on Wednesday. A bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy said notices should go from top police officials right down to the house officer of Ramagiri police station in whose jurisdiction the double murder was reported.