bengaluru-realtor-and-son-killed-in-andhra-over-land-dispute

A 60-year-old real estate developer from Bengaluru and his son were abducted and murdered in Andhra Pradesh’s Bapatla district on Wednesday, allegedly over a long-standing land dispute with business associates.

 

The victims, K. Veeraswamy Reddy and his son K.V. Prashanth (35), both residents of Chinnasandra Kadugodi in Bengaluru, had travelled to Narasaraopet to attend a hearing in a cheque bounce case.

 

According to the police, Veeraswamy had multiple legal disputes with business associates Gaddam Anil Reddy and Raghurami Reddy from Santamaguluru. One of the accused had allegedly obtained Veeraswamy’s cheque book and filed multiple cheque dishonour cases across courts in Guntur, Ongole, Kurnool, and Narasaraopet.

 

On Tuesday, Veeraswamy and Prashanth arrived at Gannavaram Airport, accompanied by two lawyers, Raghu and Nagabhushanam. The group checked into a hotel near the Narasaraopet court.

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The following morning, shortly after breakfast, the father and son were reportedly abducted by unidentified assailants in a car as they stepped out of the hotel.

 

The lawyers immediately lodged a complaint at the Narasaraopet First Town Police Station and informed the local court, prompting the judge to direct the detention of Anil Reddy, who was present at the hearing, for questioning.

 

Later that day, two mutilated bodies were found at a real estate project site near Pathamaguluru village in Santamaguluru mandal. Police confirmed the identities of the deceased as Veeraswamy and Prashanth. Forensic reports suggested the murders occurred within 30 minutes of the abduction. The victims’ faces had been mutilated beyond recognition.

 

A kidnapping case has been registered at Narasaraopet, while a separate murder FIR has been filed at Santamaguluru police station.

 

Four special investigation teams have been formed to trace and apprehend the culprits. The gruesome double murder has sparked concern over the rising incidence of violence linked to high-stakes property disputes in southern India.