In a significant development in the two-month-old murder case of Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Samineni Rama Rao, the Khammam police have approached a local court with an unprecedented request. They are seeking permission to subject 24 individuals to polygraph tests, marking one of the largest such requests in the region's investigative history.
Details of the Crime and Investigation
The 70-year-old former state committee member was brutally murdered on October 31, just before the local bodies elections. The assailants slit his throat and stabbed him in the stomach near his residence in Patharlapadu village, Khammam. Following the killing, Police Commissioner Sunil Dutt formed five special teams to crack the case.
However, with no decisive breakthrough after two months, investigators have identified 24 suspects. This list reportedly includes members associated with the Congress and CPI(M) parties, along with local villagers from Patharlapadu. The polygraph test is seen as a critical tool to elicit the truth and move the investigation forward.
Legal Hurdles and Precedents
The request is currently under consideration by a criminal court in Khammam. Sources privy to the development told TOI that while some Congress leaders have expressed willingness to undergo the test, a few other suspects have contested the move in court, citing various reasons. The matter remains pending.
It is important to note that under Indian law, a security agency can only subject a suspect to a polygraph test with their consent. This investigative tool has been used in high-profile cases before, including by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the 2024 rape and murder case of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. In a recent success, Jagtial police cracked a murder case in August using a polygraph test, leading to the arrest of the victim's son and daughter-in-law.
Next Steps and Family's Suspicion
If the court grants permission, the Khammam police reportedly plan to conduct the tests in forensic facilities in Bengaluru or other states. Earlier in the investigation, Rama Rao's family had suspected a political grudge behind the murder. Police inquiries revealed that the veteran leader had been keeping away from active politics for several months prior to his killing, adding complexity to the motive.
The case continues to be a major challenge for the Chinthakani police under the Khammam police commissionerate, as they strive to find the perpetrators behind this shocking political murder.
