In a joint operation, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police and the Andhra Pradesh Police arrested in Delhi four contract killers along with three other persons involved in a triple murder case in Vijayawada. The contract killers were hired for over a crore rupees and the main conspirator planned this in london. The contract amount for the killings was paid to him and with the help of his brother, who hired contract killers from Mumbai. Motive behind the contract killing was personal enmity and it led to the hatching of the conspiracy by the kingpin, who is said to be hiding in the UK.
In order to avenge the killing of his brother, Butham Durgarao, who was shot dead on April 6 in West Godavari district, Butham Govindu hatched a conspiracy to eliminate the members of the other family, who had hired contract killers to murder his brother. Before Govindu left for london, he threatened he would return to eliminate the entire family of Nageswara Rao, the other accused party. The triple murder, which took place on September 24, was a result of personal enmity.
On September 24 at around 10 am, Gandham Nageswara Rao (70), Gandham Marayya (40) and Gandham Pagidi Marayya (30), all residents of West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh were shot dead on NH-16, while they were proceeding from Vijayawada city to Eluru in their Chevrolet Tavera. The killers were travelling in a Mahindra XUV and a motorcycle when they intercepted the Chevy. Three persons got down from one side of the XUV Mahindra and another person got down from the other side and two persons on motorcycle opened fire at the three occupants in the car. All three of them were shot dead. The driver of the Tavera however, managed to escape unhurt.
A case of murder was registered at Unguturu police station, Vijayawada city, Andhra Pradesh. Investigations by the Vijayawada city police revealed that the triple murders were the result of personal enmity. There existed a long standing feud between the two families. One family consisted of Butham Govindu, Butham Srinivasarao and Butham Durgarao, while the other family consisted of Gandham Nageswara Rao, Gandham Marayya and Gandham Pagidi Marayya. Both the families were residents of the same village Pinakadimi, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. Investigation by the Vijayawada city police revealed that the conspirators and the contract killers were from Delhi. Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada AV Venkateswara Rao contacted Special Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Taj Hasan who assigned this task to Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Chand and DCP Dinesh Kumar Gupta.
The Crime Branch team conducted the joint operation with the Vijayawada Police. The hard work of both the teams bore results and seven accused involved in the killings were apprehended. The accused have been identified as Partap Singh, alias Anuj (35), Dharamveer, alias Sallu (32), Nitin (27), Neeraj (22), Manjeet Singh (35), Satish Kumar, alias Baba (27) and Pankaj, alias Prakash (22),” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav.
Sustained interrogation of the arrested men revealed that the main conspirator was Sirigirichina Sriniwas, alias Shiva, originally a resident of West Godavari District. He was contracted by Butham Sriniwas Rao and Butham Govindu and others. Butham Govindu is currently in london. The contract for successful execution of the killings was for about `1 crore. Shiva contacted Ombir, a resident of Kalyanpuri and presently residing in Kachi Colony, Ghaziabad, for executing the contract. Ombir Singh along with his associates Pankaj, alias Prakash, Satish and Manjeet Singh — all residents of Kalyanpuri in Delhi — planned the criminal conspiracy along with Shiva to eliminate their targets. The contract killers have disclosed that they were paid `8 lakh-`10 lakh upfront for each killing.
On September 22, they reached Eluru and stayed in Royal Hampi lodge. The Mahindra XUV, motorcycle, six weapons along with ammo were provided to them for the executions. After executing the killings, they fled to Delhi and went underground.