Police cop hold of ploy

Though the police were flummoxed on finding the severed body and thought it to be a case of suicide, they were adept in unravelling the `murder' mystery later, writes K. SRINIVAS REDDY.

THE SEVERED body on the railway track gave the impression of a suicide case. But the railway police who rushed to Gaganpahad area on being told about the incident were somewhat skeptical. Why didn't the man -- aged around 35 years -- leave behind a suicide note?

Even as a death under suspicious circumstances under Section 174 of the Cr.P.C. was registered and inquest held by the railway police, their counterparts in Rajendranagar station were to come out with more information. They received a complaint of a man missing three days later -- Laxma Reddy was missing from February 15. For the cops this rang a bell. A body was found on the tracks the same day. Could it be Laxma Reddy? Within hours, the body was identified by the relatives.

They insisted there was no need for Laxma Reddy to commit suicide. Even as investigations were taking a formal shape, a curious development took place. Sanjiva Reddy, a friend of the deceased, approached the Shamshabad Sub-Inspector, Mr. Jagadeeshwar Reddy, pleading that he was not responsible for the death of Laxma Reddy. The police obviously were in for a surprise.

As they questioned Sanjiva Reddy, the investigators smelt a rat. Something was amiss. Sanjiva Reddy claimed that Laxma Reddy had given him a promissory note asking him to keep it in his safe custody. It was given by one Sattaiah after he took a loan of Rs. 1.20 lakhs from Laxma Reddy. Sanjiva Reddy got worried after coming to know about Laxma Reddy's death and feared he could become the chief suspect for the police. The intrigued police officers immediately summoned Sattaiah and questioned him.

It was only then Sattaiah spilled the beans. He confessed to strangling Laxma Reddy to death as he did not want to repay the money loaned to him. On the fateful day, he roped in his friend Pochaiah and took Laxma Reddy in his car promising to show a piece of land which would be given to him in lieu of the money owed. Till evening the trio consumed liquor and once Laxma Reddy got inebriated, he was strangled in the car.

Subsequently, both of them carried the body to the railway track and kept it there. They hoped that the death would pass off as a suicide, but they never realised that the police were adept in differentiating between a suicide and a homicide. Sattaiah and Pochaiah have since been arrested and remanded.

(The case was investigated by the Rajendranagar Circle Inspector, Mr. V. Surendar Reddy, and the Sub-Inspector, Mr. I.V. Srikanth Goud).

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