Malkajgiri court sentences priest to life
MALKAJGIRI: A court in Malkajgiri on Monday sentenced a temple priest to life imprisonment for murdering a woman for her gold jewellery in 2022.
The fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge D. Kiran Kumar awarded life rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹7,000 on Anumala Murali Krishna alias Kittu, 46.
Crime committed inside temple sanctum
According to police, Murali Krishna, a native of Balasubbaiah Nagar in Pamuru mandal of Markapuram district, Andhra Pradesh, was living in Vishnupuri, Malkajgiri, and working as a priest at the Swayambhu Siddhivinayaka temple.
He had developed addictions and incurred debts. Umadevi, 57, wife of Gorthi Venkata Narayana Murthy, a resident of Vishnupuri Extension, used to visit the temple daily. The priest noticed her gold jewellery and waited for an opportunity to steal it.
On April 18, 2022, at 7.30 pm, he asked her to enter the sanctum for darshan. As no devotees were present, he hit her on the head with an iron rod and killed her. He then stole her jewellery.
He stuffed the body into a drum and hid it inside the sanctum. He locked the temple and cleaned the premises for three days.
Body dumped behind temple after stench
Meanwhile, Umadevi’s husband lodged a missing complaint at Malkajgiri police station. As foul smell began emanating, the priest dumped the body in bushes behind the temple.
Police grew suspicious after finding the victim’s slippers outside the temple and noting inconsistencies in the priest’s statements. During questioning, he confessed to killing her for jewellery.
Police booked him under relevant sections and filed a chargesheet in court.
The investigation was conducted by then Malkajgiri assistant commissioners of police N. Shyam Sundar Rao and P. Narendra Reddy, and inspector B. Jageshwar Rao. Additional public prosecutor S. Komalatha argued for the prosecution.
The court pronounced the verdict on Monday, sentencing the accused to life imprisonment.
