Chittoor double murder: Court sentences five to death for killing Mayor and husband

Andhra Pradesh: The Chittoor VI Additional District Sessions Court on Friday sentenced five men to death for the 2015 murder of former Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband Katari Mohan. The verdict was delivered by Judge N. Srinivasa Rao, who described the killings as falling under the “rarest of rare” category.

Convicts found guilty after decade-long trial

Those sentenced include S. Chandrasekhar alias Chintu — Mohan’s nephew and the prime accused — along with Govinda Swami Srinivasayya Venkatachalapathi alias Venkatesh, Jayaprakash Reddy alias Jayareddy, Manjunath alias Manju, and Muniratnam Venkatesh. The court found the five guilty of conspiracy, planning, and execution of the murders that took place inside the Chittoor Municipal Corporation office nearly a decade ago.

The 2015 crime that shocked Andhra Pradesh

On 17 November 2015, a group of men disguised in burqas stormed the Municipal Corporation office and attacked Anuradha, who was serving as Mayor at the time. She was shot dead inside her chamber, while her husband Mohan — who rushed in after hearing gunfire — was chased and stabbed multiple times. He later succumbed to his injuries.

The investigation revealed that a long-standing family dispute was behind the attack, with Chandrasekhar named as the main conspirator. Initially, police had charged 28 individuals, but one accused was discharged and another died during the trial, bringing the total number of active accused to 21.

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The prosecution examined 122 witnesses and presented extensive documentary and forensic evidence. After years of trial, the court found the five men guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The death sentence was announced on Friday, taking into account the brutality and premeditated nature of the murders.

Tight security was deployed around the court during the verdict announcement. Following sentencing, the convicts were escorted back to prison under police supervision.

Chittoor Urban Development Authority (CHUDA) Chairperson Katari Hemalatha, daughter-in-law of the victims, welcomed the court’s decision. “This verdict has strengthened our faith in the judiciary,” she said, expressing relief that justice had been served after nearly ten years.

The 2015 daylight attack inside the Chittoor Municipal Corporation office had shocked the state. The double murder exposed deep-seated family tensions and raised concerns over security for public officials. The sentencing marks a closure to one of Andhra Pradesh’s most high-profile murder cases in recent years.
(With PTI inputs)