Supreme Court orders CBI probe in lawyer couple murder case

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe into the murder of advocates Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife Nagamani. The couple were killed at Kalvacharla in Ramagiri mandal, Peddapalli district, on February 17, 2021.

Court accepts video evidence, moves probe to CBI

The order followed a petition by Vaman Rao’s father, Gattu Kishan Rao. He alleged that Telangana police diverted the investigation by omitting key accused Puttamadhukar from the chargesheet despite his name in the victim’s dying declaration video. He sought a CBI probe for impartiality.

A bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice M. Kotiishwar Singh gave the directive after multiple hearings since September 2022. The Telangana High Court had earlier refused his request, citing the May 2021 chargesheet and finding no need for further inquiry. Kishan Rao appealed to the Supreme Court.

On May 13 this year, the apex court told the state to examine the video and file an affidavit within three weeks. On Tuesday, state counsel Vaibhav confirmed that the audio did mention Puttamadhukar. The state did not object to the CBI investigation.

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, for the petitioner, pointed out that the Centre also had no objection. Defence counsel Niranjan Reddy and Nagamuthu opposed the transfer, but the bench rejected their arguments. Justice Sundresh told them to choose between the state police and the CBI. He advised CBI for fairness, noting the change in government.

The court said earlier accused must not be rearrested. However, any new accused identified during the fresh probe could face arrest.

Political and family reactions

Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu welcomed the verdict. He accused the previous government of neglect and recalled the Congress party’s earlier demand for a CBI inquiry. He said a fair probe would reveal the real culprits.

Vaman Rao’s father said the order gave hope for justice. He alleged that hired killers murdered the couple in broad daylight and that the earlier government failed to help. He added that the present government and police were cooperating with his family.