Police have detained four men in connection with the murder of CPI's Chandu Nayak. Investigators suspect a land dispute was the motive.
Published Jul 16, 2025 | 2:53 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 16, 2025 | 2:53 PM
CPI leader Chandu Naik and Congress leader Anil Marelli were shot dead in Telangana.
Synopsis: While Chandu Nayak, a state committee member of the CPI, was shot dead at Shalivahana Nagar Park at Malakpet, Anil Marelli, a Scheduled Caste Cell leader of the Congress, was found dead with bullet injuries in Medak.
Two political leaders were killed in separate incidents within 24 hours in Telangana’s Hyderabad and Medak.
While Chandu Nayak, a state committee member of the CPI, was shot dead at Shalivahana Nagar Park at Malakpet, Anil Marelli, a Scheduled Caste Cell leader of the Congress, was found dead with bullet injuries in Medak on Monday, 14 July.
Nayak’s wife and daughter were reportedly with him on a morning walk when he was gunned down around 7 am on Tuesday, 15 July.
Originally from Narasaipalli in Nagarkurnool’s Balmoor Mandal, Nayak had been residing in Malakpet. Police said four unidentified men parked a Swift Dzire car a short distance from the CPI leader, and approached him.
“The attackers first threw chilli powder on him, and as he tried to escape, they fired at him using a country-made pistol. Seven bullets were fired in total, with two misfiring,” the police said.
Nayak died instantly. His body bore three bullet injuries.
The Malakpet police registered a case and formed special teams to trace and apprehend the suspects. Four individuals were later taken into custody after being identified with the help of a video taken by a resident, which showed their car as they fled. Police were also reviewing CCTV footage.
Initial investigations reportedly pointed to disputes over a 100-acre land at Kuntloor village, Ranga Reddy district, between Nayak and a man named Rajesh. Rajesh is reportedly affiliated with the CPI (ML) and is a native of Devaruppala.
It has been reported that Rajesh was a former friend of Nayak, but their relationship soured over the land in the past three months.
Nayak’s wife, Naarabai, mentioned that her husband, Rajesh, and others had set up huts at Kuntloor, and the conflict arose when Nayak tried to stop others from collecting money from people. Police sources said that Nayak was known for “illegally occupying” government land to build huts for the poor and was also accused No. 2 in a 2022 murder case.
Following the killing, CPI national secretary Syed Azeez Pasha, national executive member Chada Venkat Reddy, and MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao visited Nayak’s family at Osmania Hospital. They demanded stern action against the culprits.
Anil Marelli, a Congress Scheduled Caste Cell leader from Telangana’s Medak district, was found dead under suspicious circumstances near the Variguntam substation in Kolcharam Mandal. A resident of Paitara village, Marelli was reportedly returning home from Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad.
Initially, his death was suspected to be a road accident. However, further inquiry revealed gunshot wounds on his body. Police observed that two bullets had pierced his right shoulder, with additional injuries on his back and hands. Bullet casings were also recovered at the scene.
The Kolcharam Police has initiated an investigation, and the body was sent to the Medak mortuary for a post-mortem examination. The police expressed suspicion that the incident was a planned murder. Investigators were trying to identify the culprits and unravel the murder motive.
A Mercedes-Benz car (TS-08-FD-1122) that Marelli was driving has become a crucial piece of evidence. The car was registered in the name of Venkata Srinivas Sagar Ravada, a well-known Hyderabad businessman involved in construction and real estate.
Police suspect Marelli had been using the car for approximately three months, and a real estate deal involving the car owner’s family was under investigation.
Authorities also found a phone number written on Marelli’s palm. Speaking to South First, Medak Police confirmed that there were no arrests yet, adding that they were investigating various suspects.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
