Bhanu Kiran, the prime accused in the sensational gunning down of faction leader Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelacheruvu Suri in 2011 in Hyderabad, has been sentenced to life in the case by a local court here on Tuesday.
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While another accused Manmohan was awarded 10-year jail term in the case, four other persons charged in the homicide case were acquitted of the charges. Bhanu Kiran and Manmohan were imposed with fine amounts of ₹40,000 and ₹10,000 respectively on different counts.
The court acquitted Subbaiah, Venkataramana, Haribabu and Vamshi, against whom charges were framed in the case along with Bhanu Kiran and Manmohan.
A faction leader from Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, Suri was facing a series of criminal cases and charges including the killing of Telugu Desam leader and former Minister Paritala Ravindra of the same district. He came out on bail after Ravindra's killing and was facing trials in different cases.
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On January 4, 2011, Suri was shot dead while travelling in a car along with his close associate Bhanu Kiran in upscale Banjara Hills of Hyderabad. Suri's another trusted aide Manmohan was driving the car then. As Kiran was sitting on the rear seat of the car and disappeared minutes after the murder, he emerged as the prime suspect. Fifteen months after the murder, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) sleuths caught him at Zaheerabad of Medak district.
Based on his confession, Manmohan, whose firearm Bhanu Kiran had allegedly used to kill Suri and four others, were caught by the investigators.