Two other suspects, who are absconding, include Pulla Naresh and Pulla Suresh, said SP Kiran Kare on Sunday.
Hyderabad: Kotha Hari Babu, a close associate of former BRS legislator Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, is suspected to be the key player in last week’s murder of activist Nagavelli Rajalinga Murthy in Bhupalpally. Hari Babu (44), BRS leader and contractor, who is absconding, faces ten cases. He was in the know of plans to murder Murthy, police said.
Two other suspects, who are absconding, include Pulla Naresh and Pulla Suresh, said SP Kiran Kare on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Bhupalpally police arrested seven persons on Sunday. Many of them face several cases. At least two of them were associated with the Telangana Generation Corporation (Genco).
The arrested include Renikuntala Sanjeev, Jawaharnagar Colony, Bhupalpally, involved in ten cases; Pingili Semanth, of Pedda Thundla; More Kumar, 35, Genco employee from Kompally village, involved in seven offences; Kothuri Kiran, Genco artisan, Jawaharnagar Colony, Bhupalpally; Renikuntla Komuraiah, 60, Bhupalpally, involved in 11 offences; Dasarapu Krishna and Renikuntala Sambaiah, 56, both from Bhupalpally.
According to SP Kare, Sanjeev approached Hari Babu, a former municipal vice-chairman, and allegedly explained his plan to kill Murthy in connection with the land dispute case. Hari Babu reportedly assured Sanjeev that he would take care of his bail and other expenses. Hari Babu reportedly mentioned that after a lawyer had passed away, Murthy had been troubling him and was trying to prevent the land from being transferred to his name.
Explaining about the case, the SP said that Murthy and the accused were involved in a dispute over one acre of land located in front of the Bhupalpally police station. Both parties had approached the court regarding the land dispute.
The accused alleged that Murthy fraudulently got a portion of the land transferred to his name from Renikuntla Sanjeev and his family.
After getting Hari Babu’s support, Sanjeev went to Kasibugga in Warangal where he purchased knives. On February 19, Sanjeev went to court for a hearing, where he spotted Murthy.
"Later when Murthy was proceeding to his residence on his bike, Dasari Krishna alerted Sanjeev and the others about his movements. As Murthy approached his house, the accused blocked his path, threw chilli powder in his eyes, and stabbed him with knives. Murthy died on the spot and the killers fled the scene on bikes," the SP said.
Sanjeev escaped towards Parkal on a bike. At Shyamnagar stage, he noticed his relative Kalvala Srinivas, asked him for his phone and reportedly called Hari Babu, Later, Sanjeev fled towards Parkal, the SP said.
