Degree student arrested in rape and murder case

Hyderabad: A 20-year-old degree student has been arrested for his role in the

rape and murder

of a 25-year-old divorcee in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.

The victim used to run a grocery store at Katepally village of Motakondur mandal. According to police, she was in a relationship with one M Ravi, 28, an electrician from Golenpally village in Valigonda mandal.

“Ravi had an affair with the woman and he financially helped her. But, recently he started suspecting that she became close to other men and decided to eliminate her. He sought help of Ch Ravi Teja, a degree student from Golenpally, and hatched a plan to kill her,” deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Bhuvanagiri, K Narayana Reddy said.

As per the plan, Ravi called the victim on August 18 morning and asked her to meet him at Vali Pasha Hillock in neighbouring Lingarapally village. Around 1 pm, the victim met the accused atop the hillock and Ravi introduced her to Raviteja as his friend. “Subsequently, both the accused raped the victim and then strangled her with her stole,” the DCP said.

The duo covered the body with branches and got down from the hillock. Ravi left the place on his bike, while Raviteja rode the victim’s scooter to Uppal and parked at his brother’s residence. On August 19, the victim’s family lodged a missing complaint and while police were trying to trace her, Ravi ended his life by consuming pesticide at an open land in Nagireddypally village near Bhuvanagiri on August 20. By analysing call data of the victim and Ravi, Rachakonda police zeroed in on Raviteja on Saturday and, based on his confession, recovered the putrefied body of the victim from the hillock.

Police registered a case under Sections 376, 302, 201 of the IPC and the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as the victim was from an SC community, while Ravi was from a BC community. Raviteja also belongs to the SC community.