Tadikonda police arrested five persons for murder allegedly committed in connection with a robbery linked to a missing person case. During interrogation, the accused also allegedly confessed to their involvement in another murder linked to a separate missing person case, police said on Monday.
According to Guntur Superintendent of Police (SP) Vakul Jindal, the investigation was conducted using scientific and technical evidence. Police said that the prime accused, Devarakonda Nageswara Rao alias Omkar, along with Gujjarlapudi Samuel alias Simon, Kanaparthi Manikanta, Gattamaneni Pushpa and Devalla Padmala, allegedly conspired to rob real estate businessman Madugula Sankara Rao of Phanidharam village after learning about his financial status.
The accused allegedly lured the victim under the pretext of purchasing land at Yadlapadu, procured SIM cards from other States, hired a car and purchased ropes and binding wire in advance. On July 7, they allegedly strangled Sankara Rao near Vankayalapadu village, robbed him of four gold rings, a gold chain and ₹72,000 in cash, and dumped his body in a quarry pit near Pothuru after tying it to a cement fencing pole. They later used the victim's mobile phone to mislead his family before destroying the SIM card.
During interrogation, the accused also allegedly confessed to another murder involving Nagaraju of Vengalayapalem. Police said Omkar, Bannu and Manikanta reportedly admitted to taking Nagaraju in a car, killing him en route and disposing of his body in the Sagar Right Canal near Macherla.
Following a complaint from Nagaraju's parents, police had earlier registered a missing person case at the Nallapadu police station. Police said that further investigation into both the cases was in progress after the seizure of the car, mobile phones, cash and other incriminating material.
Published - July 20, 2026 09:16 pm IST