VIJAYAWADA: Two persons allegedly tried to burn a financier alive by pouring petrol on him in broad daylight in Vijayawada on Friday. According to the police, Devarapalli Gagarin, 50, alias Ravi Teja has been doing financial transactions and his office was situated in Moon Moon Plaza at Chiluku Durgaiah Street, near Besant Road.
The two culprits came to his office while he was there and suddenly poured petrol on him. Then they lit a matchstick and Gagarin came out from his office screaming for help. In the meanwhile, the culprits managed to escape from the place and the onlookers shifted Gagarin, who was severely injured, to Andhra Hospital.
According to the police, Gagarin is a financier by and runs Ravi Teja Finance. On Friday afternoon, two youth barged into his office and set him ablaze.
Though Gagarin tried to catch them, the accused fled the scene.
ACP- South zone Ramana Murthy said that by seeing Gagarin up in flames, his neighbours poured water on him, to douse the flames.
Doctors at Andhra Hospital declared that Gagarin suffered 80 per cent burns and that his condition is serious as his chest and stomach are severely injured.
His family members said that financial disputes between Gagarin and the accused led to the murder attempt. They said that Gagarin purchased a property near Sikhamani Centre, a few months ago, from one Madala Narayana Rao.
After the death of Narayana Rao, his two sons - Madala Suresh and Madala Sudhakar, raised objection to the transaction and threatened to approach the court, after bringing a stay order.
The family members alleged that Suresh and Narayana threatened them several times earlier and warned them of dire consequences if they did not leave their property.
ACP Ramana Murthy said that the police took the statement from Gagarin.
