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Killer cop surrenders, claims he is innocent
Senior police officer Dasari Ravi Babu, who was on the run for the last two weeks after he was named prime accused in the murder case of Kopperla Satyanarayana (Gedela Raju), made a surprise presence in Chodavaram police station where he surrendered on Friday.
Visakhapatnam: Senior police officer Dasari Ravi Babu, who was on the run for the last two weeks after he was named prime accused in the murder case of Kopperla Satyanarayana (Gedela Raju), made a surprise presence in Chodavaram police station where he surrendered on Friday.
People in this small town saw the fugitive DSP in a dark track suit and blue T shirt running in the early hours. They recognised him as he began his career as sub-inspector in Chodavaram. When he saw people noticing him, increased his speed and barged into the police station. He introduced himself to the sub-inspector and announced his surrender.
Sources said Ravi Babu had informed the local media about the surrender a few hours before to gain publicity so that he would be produced before the court in 24 hours. He told media persons that he was innocent and has no connection to the murder. “I will fight it out in the court,’’ he told reporters.
DCP (Law and Order), South Zone, T Ravi Kumar Murthy said that Ravi Babu was brought to the New Port Police station, where the missing and murder case of Gedela Raju was registered. He was questioned for a few hours by ACP K Ranga Raju . The DCP said that Ravi Babu would be produced in the court on Saturday and sent to judicial remand.
Officials said police have powers to apply for police custody of Ravi Babu within the first 15 days of judicial remand. However, another accused in Gedela Raju murder case editor and managing director of a local Telugu daily Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Raju is still on the run. Ravi Babu and Srinivasa Raju hired nine contract killers paying Rs4 lakh for killing Gedela Raju, who was reportedly blackmailing Ravi Babu over the death of K Padmalatha, daughter of former MLA of Payakaraopeta, Kakara Nooka Raju.
Joint commissioner of police D Nagendra Kumar said Ravi Babu had an affair with K Padmalatha and after she lodged a police complaint against him in 2016, Ravi Babu sought help of Gedela Raju for killing Padmalatha. She was killed in September last year.
According to police, Ravi Babu had offered Gedela Raju Rs 1 crore to eliminate Padmalatha and he reportedly paid only Rs 50 lakh. Gedela Raju was pestering and blackmailing the police officer to cough up remaining Rs 50 lakh. Raju recorded the officer's telephonic conversation, which led to his murder.
Investigating officers said the case would be dealt in different angles to establish the role of Ravi Babu in connection with the mysterious death of Padmalatha. “This will be done when we get him from the remand,’’ a senior officer said.
