SCOUTING FOR CLUES: Police personnel inspecting the Jubilee Hills residence of former MLA Grandhi Madhavi on Tuesday. Photo: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: Former MLA Grandhi Madhavi, 50, was found murdered in the kitchen of her house located on road no. 39 of Jubilee Hills on Tuesday night. Her maid Devi, 24, was also found lying unconscious with a kitchen knife embedded in her abdomen.

It is said that unidentified persons attacked the two women with knives. But the superficial wounds sustained by the maid raised several suspicions including her possible complicity in the killing, the police said. Devi was shifted to a corporate hospital and being operated upon when reports last came in.

The victim was living with her younger son Hemanth. Her manager Venkatapathi Raju also lived in the same house. While Hemanth was away on some work, Raju returned home around 8.45 p.m., unlocked the gate and went inside.

Injuries

On seeing bloodstains near the main door, he grew suspicious and called out neighbour Babu. The duo went inside only to see the two women lying on the floor of the hall. They rushed them to hospital where doctors declared Madhavi brought dead. She had injuries all over the head, chest and throat.

There were two pet dogs in the house. "The German Shepherd never used to allow any new visitor inside. It is surprising that it did not bark when the killers came inside," Mr. Babu told the police. Scattered clothes in a bedroom and opened bags and suitcases suggested that killers searched for some valuable property. Some broken bangle pieces and a wallet were also found. Elected to State Assembly from Visakhapatnam-1 constituency on Telugu Desam ticket in 1983, Madhavi later joined the Congress party. She practised as a lawyer for some time and worked as the chairperson of Kanyakaparameshwari Co-operative Urban Bank. In May 2005, the Kukatpally police arrested her on charge of duping bank depositors.

Real estate

Police sources said of late the former MLA entered into real estate business. "We're probing if real estate disputes or cheating cases pertaining to the bank resulted in her murder," the police said.

City Police Commissioner A.K. Mohanty visited the spot. CLUES team, fingerprint experts and sniffer dogs were pressed into service.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail