Spiritual guru allegedly murdered in Chittoor dist

TIRUPATI: Achyutanandagiri Swamy, a local spiritual guru and organiser of Bhagawan Sri Ramatheertham Ashram, died under mysterious circumstances in his ashram at Gundlapalli village in Irala mandal of Chittoor district late Tuesday night.

Police said the 75-year-old was allegedly murdered by some unknown person.

According to eye-witness Lakshmamma (Swamiji’s servant), an unknown person barged into the ashram late in the night and started attacking Swamy with a blunt object. Later, he strangled Swamy to death and fled from the spot.

On being informed, DSP N. Sudhakar Reddy, CI Lakshmikanth Reddy, SI Srikanth Reddy and others reached the spot and collected details. The Clues team was deployed to collect evidence. They recorded the statement of Lakshmamma and other inmates of the ashram.   

Meanwhile, Sriramulu Reddy, brother of Achyutanandagiri Swamy, has alleged that a property dispute is the cause behind the murder. “My brother had purchased a building in Mitturu several years back for conducting annadanam for Srivari devotees. The occupants of the building did not vacate the property. Recently, he requested them to vacate so that he could construct Annadana Satram”, he said.

He expressed doubts over the role of the building occupants in the murder. However, police, who are yet to comment on this, shifted the body to the government general hospital in Chittoor for autopsy. A case has been registered by the Irala police and further investigation is on.