How Hyderabad wedding arsenic poisoning plot unfolded: UK-based pharmacist accused of killing mother-in-law; what Telangana told UK in extradition request

HYDERABAD: Telangana police and prison department officials have sent details requested by the United Kingdom for the extradition of its citizen M Ajith Kumar, 45, a UK-based pharmacist-cum-IT consultant, who faces charges of murder and attempted murder in Hyderabad through arsenic poisoning.

In her complaint to Miyapur police on Aug 18, 2023, UK-based oncologist M Sirisha Rao said that her husband Ajith had planned to kill her and her family members when all of them had gathered at their Miyapur flat for her brother Purnender's wedding in June, 2023.

After eating the arsenic-laced food, Sirisha, her father Hanumantha Rao, mother Uma Maheshwari, brother Purnender and sister-in-law Sasirekha fell ill. Uma Maheshwari, 60, died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city on July 5, 2023.


After looking at the symptoms of the victims, a Guntur-based neurologist Taraknath Vemuri suspected arsenic poisoning, and the same was confirmed through medical tests. Acting on a complaint lodged by Sirisha, Miyapur police registered a case against Ajith and others under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 498-A (subjecting a married woman to cruelty) and 120-b (criminal conspiracy) against Ajith on Aug 18, 2023.

After an inquiry, police filed a chargesheet against 10 accused on June 12, 2024. While Ajith, the main accused, was listed as absconding, the other nine accused — Ajith's associates Dappulapati Vinod, 29, friends Bhavani Shankar, 28, Bathula Ashok, 47, Businiraju Gopinath, 27, Gokulapati Ramesh, 23, Mohammed Azeem Khan, 23, Mohammed Abdul Rizwan, 25, Ajith's sister Mupparapu Surekha and Sirisha's relative M Purnendhar Rao, 49 — were arrested.

After the chargesheet was filed, the Cyberabad police through the state govt and the Union ministry of external affairs sent an affidavit seeking Ajith's extradition towards the end of 2024. Acting on the Indian govt's request, a team of extradition officers in the UK arrested Ajith in Maidenhead, Berkshire in Jan 17, 2025. Ajith was remanded by the Westminster magistrate's court in London on the same day.

Subsequently, on a petition moved by the accused, the UK Govt Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) sought information from the Telangana police as well as the prison authorities in the last quarter of 2025, to ensure that the defendant's human rights would not be breached after the extradition.

While the prison department officials were asked about custodial torture and safeguards for international prisoners, the police were asked about procedural safeguards to protect the human rights of the accused as well as about the death penalty.

"The UK government has asked for a declaration saying death penalty will not be sought for the accused and it has been provided. We were also asked if the accused would be taken into police custody again and what more is pending in terms of investigation of the case. We were also asked if the accused would be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of being taken into custody and if medical examination would be conducted. The complete investigation details and the evidence against the accused was also provided. We have answered the queries and sent a detailed response at the end of Jan 2026. The hearing on extradition will take place in April 2026," said a Cyberabad police official.

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