Hyderabad: Police in Telangana’s Jayashankar Bhupalpally district arrested a woman, her alleged partner and another man in connection with the death of her husband, who police allege was murdered and the scene later staged to resemble a suicide.
The deceased was identified as Pendela Sampath, 32, a plumber from Golapalli village who was residing in Buddharam village.
Police initially registered a suspicious death case on September 18. During the investigation, the case was subsequently altered after investigators gathered evidence pointing to an alleged conspiracy.
The accused were identified as Ummalla Srikanth, 36; Pendela Sumalatha, 26, Sampath’s wife; and Poludasari Tarun, 23. All three are residents of Buddharam village.
Police allege murder conspiracy
According to police, Sampath suspected a relationship between his wife and Srikanth and had allegedly warned Srikanth several times.
Investigators allege that Sumalatha and Srikanth subsequently planned to kill Sampath and brought Tarun into the alleged conspiracy by promising him Rs 1 lakh.
Police said that on September 17, Srikanth and Tarun allegedly took Sampath to the premises of Buddharam Zilla Parishad High School. They allegedly made him consume liquor mixed with pesticide.
Sampath subsequently died, according to police.
Alleged attempt to stage suicide
Police allege that the accused then attempted to make the death appear as a suicide.
According to investigators, Sampath's body was taken to his house on Srikanth's motorcycle. Police further alleged that pesticide was poured into his mouth, on his clothes and onto the floor of the house to create the appearance that he had consumed the substance himself.
The allegations are part of the police investigation and will be subject to judicial proceedings.
Evidence seized
Police said they seized the motorcycle allegedly used to transport the body, along with mobile phones belonging to all three accused.
Investigators also seized a bottle allegedly containing the pesticide-laced liquor and a pesticide bottle recovered from the scene.
All three accused were produced before a court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. The investigation is continuing.
