Mr C. Nageshwar Rao, former public prosecutor at the AP High Court, said: “The crime seemed to have occurred out of sudden emotion and in a fit of anger and we cannot see any wilful and planned action behind the murder. So the case can only be considered as a culpable homicide amounting to death under Section 304 Part II of IPC or under 299 of IPC.”

According to Meerpet police inspector T. Ravinder, Srinivas was a mini-lorry driver and used to drink often and pick fights with his family. Under the influence of alcohol, he would also misbehave with Surekha.

According to Surekha, five months ago, when they were alone at home, Srinivas tried to molest her, and she had escaped. The sisters had told their parents about the incident following which Srinivas apologised.

On Monday night, their father Arujun, 66, a dairy farmer, was away and their mother Savitri Amma, 55, had gone to sleep early. Both the sisters slept in the hall and Srinivas slept on the sofa.

At around 11.30 pm, Srinivas made sexual advances towards Surekha while she was sleeping.

“When we were informed in the morning, we rushed to the spot and found Srinivas’ body in a pool of blood. The sisters confessed that they killed their brother unable to bear his harassment,” said Mr Ravinder.