In Telangana Caste Killing, 1 Crore Contract And An ISI Angle
NALGONDA, TELANGANA: Days after a 23-year-old engineer was hacked to death with a machete while escorting his young, pregnant wife out of a hospital in Telangana, seven men, including the killer, have been arrested in Bihar, the police say. The gang was hired forRs. 1 crore to do the job, police sources told NDTV.
The gang is believed to have links to the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the sources said. Of the total amount allegedly promised, the killers had reportedly already received Rs. 18 lakh.
The killer is believed to have been convicted and later released in the 2003 murder of former Gujarat minister Haren Pandya.
On Friday, Pranay Kumar had just left the hospital in Nalgonda with his wife Amruthavarshini Rao after a check-up when a man came at him with a machete and struck him until he collapsed and died. Security footage of the murder at the busy hospital has shocked the country.
Amrutha has named her father Maruthi Rao and uncle Shravan Rao as the main suspects. The engineer's murder was caught on hospital security footage in Nalgonda
Maruthi Rao, a real estate businessman, is among the "richest and most influential" in the region, say police sources.
The police suspect Amrutha's father set up the kill as he could never accept his daughter's marriage to Pranay, who belonged to a scheduled caste.
"We were always worried that there is a threat from my family and even went into hiding for some time, but we did not anticipate cold-blooded murder," said Amrutha.
Pranay and Amrutha married in January, defying their parents. They had met in school and became involved while studying in college. In May, Pranay's family came around and organized a reception for the couple. Photos of the event on social media allegedly incensed Amrutha's father.
Amrutha told NDTV that her father had been trying to force her to have an abortion. "I have no intention of aborting my baby. Pranay's baby is my future...he was such a nice person. He looked after me so well, especially after I became pregnant," the 22-year-old wept.
In her police statement, Amrutha has said: "Investigate my father's property and wealth." She also says her father has links with many politicians.
"My father has powerful political connections. He used political leaders to put pressure on me and Pranay and his family," Amrutha says in her statement.
Local politicians from various parties are being investigated in the case.
courtesy : ndtv.com
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
