Hyderabad: A 33-year-old advocate was found dead under suspicious conditions in his apartment in Srina-gar Colony on Friday.
Gumpula Ravikumar, who belonged to Kurnool district, contested as an independent candidate in the 2014 elections from Nandikotkur.
Ravikumar was also associated with a regional daily in Kurnool. A year ago, he got married to Mahalakshmi. The couple was staying in a rented flat in Subash-nagar in Srinagar Colony under Punjagut-ta police station limits.
Ten days ago, his pregnant wife left for her maternal home. Since then, Ravikumar was staying alone in the flat.
On Friday evening, residents of the neighbouring flat found him lying unconscious and alerted the police and his family members.
Ravikumar’s younger brother, Dinakar Raju, an assistant director in films, told the police that his brother had been suffering from health problems for a few months. He often vomited blood and noticed it in his stool as well.
Raju also told the police that Ravikumar had suffered a paralytic stroke in the past and had been unwell since then.
Police investigation re-vealed that on Thursday night, Ravikumar returned home after a party at a friend’s place. He did not leave his flat after that. The police found that Ravikumar had vomited blood and also found blood in his undergarments.
“We suspect he died of ill health. We are awaiting the autopsy report to establish the exact cause of death,” Punjagutta inspector S. Ravinder said.
Ravikumar had lost the 2014 elections to YSRC candidate Yakkaladevi Isaiah. After the election, Ravikumar had approached the Election Commission alleging that Mr Isaiah had produced fabricated caste certificates, and filed a PIL in the High Court.
In the past, Ravikumar gave a petition to the then Kurnool SP stating that he had a threat from Mr Isaiah. A case was registered with the Afzalgunj police.
