Three, including wife, held for murder in Yadadri

Three individuals, including the victim’s wife, were arrested for the murder of a man in Pallerla village, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district that was reported on Sunday, July 13.

The accused were identified as Gunti Sai Kumar, 33, a farmer from Pallepahad village in Turkapally mandal; Vasthapula Swathi, 35, a private employee and wife of the deceased, from Pallerla village; and Pottepaka Mahesh, 33, a tea stall owner from Atmakur mandal. A fourth accused, Cheemala Ramalinga Swamy, 33, a resident of Thathanagar in Bhongir town, is absconding.

Police said Sai Kumar and Swathi first became acquainted between 2017 and 2018 while working in neighbouring shops in Bhongir. Their contact resumed in February 2024. Meanwhile, Swathi’s husband, who worked as a manager at a tractor showroom, was involved in a relationship with Savitha, the wife of Mahesh. Mahesh, upset over this, allegedly joined the plan to kill him. Swathi was reportedly facing mental and physical harassment from her husband after confronting him over the affair.

On the night of July 13, the victim was returning home from Bhongir on a two-wheeler with a friend, Veerababu. The accused, using a car hired by Sai Kumar with help from the absconding accused, followed the bike. At around 11.15 p.m., on the outskirts of Katepally village along the Raigiri–Mothkur road, they rammed into the bike and dragged it for nearly 120 feet. The man died on the spot. Veerababu was severely injured and taken to Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad.

The police also added relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to the case. All three accused were arrested from their homes and were produced before court for judicial remand. The search for the fourth accused is ongoing.