On 19 December, an autorickshaw driver in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district delivered a parcel containing the decomposing body of B Parlayya, packed in a wooden crate. Police are investigating the case
Published Dec 25, 2024 | 5:56 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 25, 2024 | 5:56 PM
Twist in the tale: Prime accused delivered the body in a box to relative in West Godavari (iStock)
The West Godavari police have detained two persons, including a woman, in connection with a murder and delivering the corpse to a woman at Yendagandi on 19 December.
Investigators expressed suspicion that the prime suspect, Chekuri Sridhar Varma, had delivered the body to Sagi Tulsi’s under-construction house. His suspected accomplice and paramour, Vijayalakshmi, informed the recipient woman that construction materials had been delivered to the site.
It was earlier reported that an autorickshaw driver delivered the ‘parcel’ — the decomposing body of a man in a wooden crate — to Tulsi. An extortion note in the parcel demanded ₹1.30 crore and warned of dire consequences if the family failed to pay the money.
Police on Monday, 23 December, identified the body. They said the man was B Parlayya of Gandhinagar in Kalla mandal. Investigators said Parlayya, an alcoholic, had been living separately from his wife and two children for the past 15 years.
Varma is the husband of Tulsi’s younger sister Revathi. Tulsi, leaving alone after her husband had gone missing 11 years ago, was locked in a property dispute with her sister.
Though the motive for murdering Parlayya has not been established, investigators expressed suspicion that the body was delivered to Tulsi to scare her so that Varma could take over her property.
Both Varma and Vijayalakshmi have been detained, sources said, adding that they were being interrogated.
Investigation into the case revealed that Varma used two names and married as many times. Both the wives are being questioned separately.
Revathi was his second wife. It was also revealed during the investigation that Revathi, too, was a partner in this plot to steal her elder sister’s property.
Police sources said Varma purchased two wooden crates before murdering Parlayya. While the body was packed and delivered to Tulsi in one of the boxes, he kept the other one at his residence. It was also suspected that the man was murdered at that house.
Police have found items related to black magic in Varma’s house. The motive for the murder has not been established.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
