NRI murder: 3 hired by Rakesh Reddy to threaten public prosecutors, witnesses held

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad West Zone police on Tuesday arrested three persons who were allegedly hired by murder accused Rakesh Reddy to threaten public prosecutors and witnesses in the killing of NRI Dr Chigurupati Jayaram.

Police said that Rakesh Reddy, who is currently in jail during trial, had paid Mohd. Akber Ali, 35, a male nurse at Chanchalguda jail, Kurapathi Mangaiah Guptha, 58, a real estate agent and aqua trader, and Kattula Srinivas, 38, a civil contractor from Nagole.

Officials seized five handwritten letters, the purchase bill of a smartphone along with the device used in making threat calls. along with four cellphones from the possession of the trio.

"Rakesh Reddy was arrested by the Jubilee Hills police and lodged at Chanchalguda prison on February 11, 2019. The trial is on in the Nampally courts. Rakesh Reddy, with an intent to get acquitted, hatched a plan to threaten public prosecutors and witnesses and make them opt out of the case,” police said in a statement.

“The three persons forwarded written letters containing messages with a threat to life to the special public prosecutors and witnesses," said the police. A case was booked based on a complaint by a special public prosecutor.

Earlier, the city police in their chargesheet stated that Rakesh Reddy had induced Jayaram into a honeytrap and killed him. Police said that Rakesh Reddy had taken 13 videos and 15 pictures with his mobile phone.

Charges in the murder case were framed against Rakesh Reddy, Vishal, a watchman, Srinivas, history-sheeter Nagesh, Tollywood comedian Surya Prakash, his friend Kishore, Subash Reddy, Telugu Desam leader B.N. Reddy, Anji Reddy and three suspended police officers.