Police on Thursday arrested Vemula Ranjith Kumar (26) for the murder of Peta Koteswaramma (68), who lived alone in Kothavangallu village of Kodavaluru mandal in Nellore district. The accused was apprehended within 48 hours of the crime, police said.
During the arrest, police recovered a gold chain weighing 30 grams that was stolen from the victim, along with the stone allegedly used to kill her.
Addressing the media, Superintendent of Police Ajitha Vejendla said unidentified persons entered Koteswaramma’s house on January 5, assaulted her with a stone, and fled with her gold chain. Following a complaint lodged by the victim’s son, P. Srinivasulu, Kodavaluru police registered a case on January 6.
Special teams led by Kovur Circle Inspector Sudhakar Reddy tracked down and arrested Ranjith Kumar at Rajupalem village in Kodavaluru mandal on Thursday.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to his involvement in another murder. He admitted to killing Goli Suselamma (60) of the same village on June 2, 2022, police said.
SP Ajitha Vejendla appreciated the police teams for solving the case swiftly. Additional Superintendent of Police C.H. Soujanya, Nellore Rural DSP Gattamaneni Srinivasa Rao, and other officials were present during the briefing.
