Visakhapatnam: A 53-year-old woman was murdered in New Colony, Srikakulam, on Sunday night, and around 30 tolas of gold jewelry she was wearing were stolen, according to the police. The victim, Kalavathi, was a resident of Mudalavalasa village in Padanur mandal.
Srikakulam SP K.V. Maheswar Reddy told Deccan Chronicle, “Our investigation has uncovered that accused Sarathkumar murdered the woman and fled with the gold jewellery she was wearing. The woman and the accused had been involved in an extramarital affair for the past year. The two also had a financial dispute, as the accused had taken some of the woman’s gold and pledged it in a bank eight months ago. “We have also found evidence that the accused had relationships with other women as well,” the SP stated. A case of murder for gain has been registered, and the investigation is currently underway, the SP added.
Two Town Police inspector P. Eswar Rao reported that Kalavathi left her home at 1.30 pm on Saturday, informing her family she was going to attend the Kumbh Mela with members of an ashram. When her husband, a retired army officer, was unable to reach her, the family started searching and discovered she had never arrived at the ashram.
The investigation revealed that her vehicle was parked at a private college in New Colony. According to the police, the prime suspect in the case is Andaluri Sarathkumar, a generator mechanic who lived alone in the house where the body was discovered. CCTV footage captured her entering Sarathkumar’s house on Saturday, carrying a bag of clothes. Based on a complaint filed by her husband, the police have registered a case and begun an investigation.