Medak: Former friends turn killers, seven held for Anil’s murder

Police solved the murder of Anil, who was shot dead in Medak, revealing that seven men — including three former friends — conspired to kill him over harassment and land disputes

Medak: Old friends of Marelli Anil (28), who was shot dead on the night of June 14 at Variguntham village in Kulcharam mandal of Medak district, turned against him and conspired to eliminate him due to his harassment and highhanded behaviour.

The police on Monday cracked the case and revealed that seven individuals, including three of Anil’s former close friends, plotted and executed his murder. The assailants reportedly could no longer tolerate Anil’s harassment and land-related disputes.

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According to Medak SP DV Srinivas Rao, the main accused, Somannagari Ravindar Reddy of Pythara village, was once closely associated with Anil, who was also friends with Padepu Nagaraju and his brother Nagabushanam. However, over time, Anil allegedly began to harass the trio and encroached upon Ravindar Reddy’s lands.

Anil, who had set up a petrol pump on Ravindar Reddy’s land, also took 12 acres on lease from him but later refused to return the land. Additionally, he reportedly obstructed the sale of plots developed on 3.5 acres at Rangampet village, adjacent to Pythara.

The SP said Anil had become a liability for Nagaraju, who harboured political ambitions, and was allegedly spreading false information against the trio. Frustrated, the three decided to eliminate him. Nagaraju, who ran a workshop in Medchal, roped in two of his employees, Shabuddin and Chinna, both from Vijayawada, and two other friends, Ashok and Md Fareed from Medak.

Fareed purchased a 0.32 pistol and 10 live rounds from Nawabganj in Bihar for Rs 1.5 lakh, with the help of a local contact. On July 14, Nagaraju, Shabuddin, and Chinna tracked Anil to Variguntham and shot him dead.

SP Srinivas Rao said that during the course of investigation, police interrogated nearly 50 individuals who were linked to Anil in various land settlement disputes across Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and other districts.

Seven special teams comprising two DSPs, seven Inspectors, and seven SIs were formed to expedite the investigation. Rao said the officers who cracked the case would be suitably rewarded.

Police have arrested five of the seven accused and recovered a 0.32 pistol, three cars, one DCM vehicle, and five mobile phones. Two accused are absconding.