The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : DNA test report likely today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

DNA test report likely today

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG. 23. Is the film actor, Balakrishna, a suspect in the murder of his watchman Loknath Shail? No, said the City Police Commissioner, R.P. Singh, but did not rule out the option either. "As of now, Mr. Balakrishna is not in the suspect zone, but that angle is always open," he told newsmen here on Monday.

`No specific clue'

Stating that there is no specific clue in the case, Mr. Singh said that even the burglary angle was being probed. He neither denied nor confirmed that burglary was committed at the actor's Jubilee Hills residence.

He said that the previous and present employees at Mr. Balakrishna's house were being questioned and their hair and blood samples were also taken so as to match them with those found in the hands of Loknath. The samples were sent to AP Forensic Science Laboratory for DNA tests and the reports are expected on Tuesday.

When asked to comment on the two bite marks found on the victim's shoulders, Mr. Singh said that it was peculiar and was rarely seen in such cases. "Normally bite marks are generally seen in family disputes," he said. He was, however, non-committal on whether the murder was for gain or due to some other reasons.

Woman's hand

Though Mr. Singh gave no particular reasons as to why a woman could not be involved in the crime, he dismissed it saying no such indication was there. He said that the past record of Loknath was good. "There was an incident earlier when four thieves took to their heels on seeing an alert Loknath," he said.

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