Chennai police arrested Jana Sena party’s Srikalahasti assembly constituency in-charge, Vinutha Kota, her husband Chandrababu, and three close aides—Gopi, Shiva Kumar, and Sheik Thasan—in connection with the murder of Vinutha’s driver, CH Srinivasulu alias Rayudu. Rayudu’s body was recovered from the polluted Koovam river under the Seven Wells police station jurisdiction in Chennai on Tuesday.
The Seven Wells police identified the deceased with help from Jana Sena and tattoos on the victim’s hand bearing Vinutha’s name. Rayudu’s family from Srikalahasti confirmed the identity after police contacted them.
Chennai City Police Commissioner A Arun revealed that CCTV footage played a crucial role in identifying the accused, showing them arriving in a car and disposing of the body in the Koovam river.
“When we retrieved the body, it was clear this was a murder case due to multiple injuries and strangulation marks,” Commissioner Arun said. Vinutha Kota, who contested the 2019 Srikalahasti assembly election on a Jana Sena ticket but lost, is the prime accused.
The victim was killed at Srikalahasti, and his body was dumped in Chennai, an area familiar to the accused, who believed this would help them evade arrest. All five accused have confessed to the crime. The motive reportedly involved Rayudu leaking sensitive political and personal information of Vinutha Kota to her political rivals, which led to the murder.
Jana Sena sources confirmed Rayudu had been Vinutha Kota’s driver for years but stopped working after disputes arose. Vinutha and Chandrababu had publicly distanced themselves from Rayudu, accusing him of colluding with political adversaries.
Less than a month after the fallout, Rayudu was murdered, and his body was found in the Koovam river, leading to the arrests. Rayudu’s family alleges he was tortured and strangulated near a factory in Srikalahasti before his body was dumped.
Following the arrests, Jana Sena suspended Vinutha Kota from the party on disciplinary grounds. Tirupati Jana Sena legislator Arani Srinivasulu condemned the murder and emphasized the rule of law.
Srikalahasti MLA Bojjala Sudheer Reddy expressed grief over Rayudu’s death and pledged support to his family during this difficult time.
