The police on Thursday conducted simultaneous searches in the houses and offices of eight persons in Chittoor town in connection with the investigation into the murder of Chittoor mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband Katari Mohan on November 17.
Speaking to the media, Chittoor superintendent of police G. Srinivas said the premises searched belonged to Chittoor-based YSR Congress leaders Vijayananda Reddy, Dalavai Siva and K.P. Sridhar; Gurappa (a relative of the prime accused Chandrasekhar alias Chintu and the murdered couple), TDP leaders Suresh and Sateesh, ex-municipal councillor Ekambaram and Veeresh (Chandrasekhar’s auditor). Chandrasekhar’s residence and office were searched for the second time on Thursday.
Mr Srinivas said a mobile phone and four knives were recovered from Chandrasekhar’s residence.
Investigators said the searches were meant to ascertain if these persons had any financial dealings with the main accused. Police did not reveal whether any documents were seized after the searches.
Interestingly, Vijayananda Reddy is an accused in red sanders smuggling cases, and was detained for six months under the Preventive Detention Act (PD Act).
Meanwhile, the Chittoor police invoked the PD Act on four accused in red sanders smuggling cases on Thursday: Satish Kumar from Karnataka; Patan Nissar alias Bablu from Chittoor; T. Rajendra and Savel Murugan from Tamil Nadu. The four are lodged in Chittoor sub jail as undertrials, and have now been shifted to the Kadapa jail.
