Sangareddy husband held for wife’s murder plot
HYDERABAD: Police have cracked the murder of a 35-year-old woman in IDA Bollaram, Sangareddy district, and found that her husband allegedly hired a contract killing gang to eliminate her.
Investigators arrested the husband, Anil Kumar, and one member of the gang. Efforts are on to trace the remaining accused, who are believed to be from Bihar.
Meena Devi, a native of Bihar, lived with her husband and three children in Venkateswara Colony in IDA Bollaram, Jinnaram. Anil Kumar worked as a labour contractor for an iron manufacturing company and also rented out vehicles. Police said the couple had been facing marital disputes for several years.
Husband alleges unknown assailants killed wife
According to the complaint initially lodged by Anil Kumar, he and his wife had gone to a local market on May 30 and were returning home after purchasing vegetables.
He told police that their motorcycle broke down in a secluded area. While he was repairing it, three unidentified men allegedly dragged Meena Devi into nearby bushes. He claimed he briefly ran away in fear but returned to rescue her. By then, the assailants had allegedly slit her throat and attacked him with knives before fleeing.
Based on his complaint, police registered a case and began an inquiry.
However, investigators found several inconsistencies during the examination of the crime scene. They suspected that the injuries on Anil Kumar were self-inflicted and did not match the account of an attack.
Investigators find gaps in murder account
A vegetable bag purchased by the couple before the murder emerged as a key piece of evidence.
Anil Kumar told police that the bag was in Meena Devi’s hand when she was allegedly dragged away. Investigators found it unusual that the vegetables had not spilled and that the bag had been neatly placed aside.
Police reasoned that a person being forcibly dragged would likely drop or throw the bag while resisting. The condition of the bag raised doubts about Anil Kumar’s version of events.
Further questioning led investigators to conclude that he had allegedly planned the murder. Police said he hired four men from Bihar to carry out the killing and brought his wife to the location as part of the plot.
Police have taken Anil Kumar and one contract killer into custody. Searches are under way in multiple states to trace the remaining accused.
