Visakhapatnam: Putting an end to allegations and speculation in the alleged homicide case in which a woman, Moturu Lavanya, 29, was killed, city police chief T. Yoganand on Monday made it clear that it was a hit-and-run case only and that there was no intention to murder on the part of the accused.
The police on Monday arrested two of the accused, including the key person, Dadi Hema Kumar, a financier in Anakapalle, for his involvement in the accident that occurred near Salapuvanipalem in Parawada here on May 22. They were charged under IPC sections 304 (part 2) and 201. The other person, a friend of the main accused, has been identified as B. Hemanth.
Moturu Lavanya, a housewife, died on the spot, and two others were injured in the accident when Lavanya was returning to their hometown, Vadlapudi near Gajuwaka, on a motorcycle along with two others, her sister, Divya, and Mohan Kumar. After visiting the Nukalamma temple at Anakapalle, they were hit by a speeding car: Dadi Hema Kumar, who was at the wheel, was driving under the influence of alcohol.
However, Divya, and other family members of the deceased alleged that the hit-and-run was the result of a pre-planned murder. They said that Lavanya was harassed by Dadi Hema Kumar and his friends at the temple premises. The drunk Hema Kumar and his friends were annoyed as Lavanya had retaliated to their teasing. They had chased the bike in a car and intentionally hit it from the rear when they were returning home.
As the case became a sensation in the city with some politicians trying to save Hema Kumar and a few others demanding his arrest on charges of murder, Mr Yoganand clarified that no motive for murder was established.
“We have examined CCTV footage at the temple a number of times and no eve teasing was seen. Hema Kumar and his friend had a party in a room at the SR Residency at Anakapalle when Lavanya and her family were visiting the temple. A few minutes before the accident, Hema Kumar and his friend Hemanth left the hotel for Vizag. At the same time, Lavanya was returning home on a bike along with Divya and Mohan Kumar.
Near Salapuvanipalem, Hema Kumar, who was in an inebriated state and was also speaking on his cell phone, hit the bike. Lavanya, one of the pillion riders, was first thrown on the bonnet of the car and then dragged for about 75 m before dying.
