Three more arrested in Jayaram Chigurupati murder case

HYDERABAD: The Jayaram Chigurupati murder case got traction with

Banjara Hills

police arresting three more persons, including a

history-sheeter

, on Tuesday. Police, however, could not get much leads to link Shikha Chowdary's involvement with the murder.


Sources said investigators would send questionnaires to five cops, who were in touch with prime accused K Rakesh Reddy either before or on the day of the murder to verify as to why they were talking to a man with a criminal record.

Based on the confessions of Rakesh and evidence gathered during the probe, N Nagesh, 35, history-sheeter of SR Nagar police station, his nephew V Vishal, 20, of

Erragadda

and Rakesh's associate L Subhash Chandra Reddy, 26, of Alwal were picked up. West zone DCP AR Srinivas said Rakesh had been planning to extort money from Jayaram and roped in other accused to execute his plans. "By promising good money, Rakesh got Nagesh and his nephew on board. When the accused were torturing Jayaram for money, the businessman bit Rakesh's hand. Rakesh and Vishal tried to strangle Jayaram and when he continued to resit, Vishal held his hands while Rakesh smothered him with a pillow," the DCP said.

Nagesh recorded the videos of Jayaram signing empty stamp papers and also Jayaram's

forced confession

saying that he had to give 4.5 crore to Rakesh. "While Nagesh recorded some videos, Rakesh also recorded the videos on cellphone. We seized Subhash's phone containing the evidence and arrested him," the DCP said.

The DCP said as per the directions of commissioner of police Anjani Kumar, questionnaires would be be sent to ACP S Malla Reddy, inspectors S Srinivasulu, M Ram Babu, C Harischandra Reddy and R Govinda Reddy.

Meanwhile, a day after she was charged, police said they have got no evidence yet to suggest Shikha was involved in the murder. Shikha against whom a trespass and theft case was booked based on Jayaram's wife Padmashri's complaint would be questioned again, a senior cop said.

Police came across, during the probe, that 10 persons had visited Rakesh's rented house in

Jubilee Hills

when Jayaram was there but their role in the case is yet to be established. "Rakesh said he spent 1.3 crore on Shikha by giving her cash or gifts. He claimed that Jayaram agreed to give that amount but Shikha said she did not take money from Rakesh," the DCP added.