Kakinada: The police have cracked a suspicious death case under the Sarpavaram Police Station limits in Kakinada district, establishing that it was a premeditated murder. The deceased, Pulla Durga Prasad (38), a car driver residing in Mandapam Colony of Sarpavaram village, was initially believed to have died of natural causes. However, the investigation revealed that his wife, Pulla Devi alias Rama Devi, and Prasadam Gopi Sai, a resident of Cherukupalli Mandal in Bapatla district, were engaged in an extramarital affair and conspired to eliminate him as he stood in the way of their relationship.
Murder Plot Unfolds
According to police findings, on March 12, 2026, Gopi Sai purchased ALPRAX 0.5 mg tablets and handed them over to Devi. The following day, Devi mixed the tablets into muskmelon juice and administered it to her husband. After he lost consciousness, she allegedly suffocated him using a pillow, resulting in his death. The accused then misled relatives by claiming that the death was due to a heart attack and cremated the body.
Electronic Evidence Leads to Breakthrough
The crime came to light during the subsequent inquiry. In a crucial development, on May 31, 2026, Gopi Sai sent WhatsApp messages to the deceased’s daughter, disclosing details of the murder along with photographs of the tablet purchase bills and prescription. This electronic evidence played a key role in advancing the investigation.
Legal Proceedings Initiated
Following a complaint lodged by the deceased’s elder brother on June 9, 2026, a case was registered at Sarpavaram Police Station. Based on the village revenue officer’s report, the accused’s supplementary confession, electronic evidence, witness statements, and seized material objects, the case was altered on June 11, 2026, to relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS 103(1), 61(2)(a), and 238(a)). Both accused were arrested on the same day.
Police seized key evidence, including the pillow allegedly used in the murder, ALPRAX tablet strips, a mobile phone, WhatsApp chats, and photographs of prescriptions and medical bills. The accused have been produced before the court, and judicial remand has been sought. Further investigation is ongoing, including forensic examination, call data record (CDR) analysis, and digital evidence scrutiny.
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