4 held for couple's murder in Kothagudem

Kothagudem: Four member of a family were arrested for the death of a couple that occurred on March 18 at Kothagudem. Kothagudem DSP SM Ali produced the accused before the media here on Thursday.

He said the arrested were involved in the death of Macharla Vinod and Dravida Tejaswi, who were in a live-in relationship. The couple was found charred to death in their home at Ramanjaneya Colony at Kothagudem on March 18.

According to the DSP, Vinod's mother Rani, his sister Priyanka and his brother-in-law D Gopi wanted to eliminate Vinod, an alcoholic with a criminal record who was troubling them often.

They approached R Gopala Krishna, Vinod's another brother-in-law who had earlier committed crimes along with Vinod. Soon Gopala Krishna hatched a plan and bought six litres of petrol. On March 17, he made Vinod consume alcohol and lose his consciousness.

At 1 am on March 18, Gopala Krishna poured petrol on Vinod and Tejaswini and set them on fire. In doing so, Krishna also suffered minor burn injuries.

The accused were arrested following a tip off and would be sent to judicial custody, the DSP said.