HYDERABAD: In a chilling act of honour killing, a newly-wed youngster Chinta Yoga Hemanth Kumar (28), was brutally murdered by his wife Avanti’s family members late on Thursday night.
Hemanth, a budding entrepreneur who belongs to the Vysya community, and Avanti (23), a Reddy, fell in love four years back and got married on June 11 this year. Avanti’s family members kidnapped Hemanth in a car, drove to Sangareddy and killed him en route. They then dumped his body in an open place about 200 meters away from the Hyderabad-Mumbai Highway.
The police found that the family had hired three persons for Rs10 lakh to kill Hemanth. Avanti’s parents Donthireddy Laxma Reddy, Archana, and her maternal uncle Guduru Yugandhar Reddy allegedly plotted the murder. “Avanti’s parents, uncle, and other family members were among the 14 members who were arrested on Friday,” said DCP Madhapur M Venkateswarlu.
“The investigation would be expedited, all evidence collected and a charge sheet filed at the earliest. We will ensure a speedy trial and capital punishment to the main accused,” the DCP said. On September 20, Avanti’s parents and uncle Yugandhar Reddy decided to kill Hemanth, for which Yugandhar demanded `10 lakh.
He hired Bichu Yadav, Krishna and Laddu alias Mohd Pasha for the murder and paid them an advance. On Thursday afternoon, Laxma Reddy’s driver Shaik Saheb Patel was sent to check if the couple was home. Later, Avanti’s two uncles, cousins, and other family members arrived in three cars. They forced the couple into one of the cars and drove off. Informed by Hemanth, his father Murali Krishna also came to the house at TNGO’s Colony in Gachibowli and saw the couple being taken away forcefully. He followed them to some distance and alerted the police.
Meanwhile, Yugandhar Reddy, who was driving the car in which the couple was, took the road towards ORR Gopanpally ‘X’ Roads, following which they tried to jump. Avanti sustained injuries. People in the other car whisked Hemanth into Yugandhar’s car and chased Avanti. Yugandhar drove away with Hemanth. Meanwhile, police along with Hemanth’s parents reached Gopanpally ‘X’ Roads and rescued Avanti. Murali Krishna said it took 40 minutes for the patrol vehicle to arrive.
Based on the information revealed by Avanti, police detained her parents and relatives, while a search for Hemanth continued. Police found Yugandhar had switched off his mobile after he entered ORR. Around 9.30 pm, Yugandhar called one of the accused, who was in police custody and informed him about killing Hemanth and dumping his body. Police then tracked his mobile phone and rounded him up and three others at Ravalkole.
Yugandhar, along with Hemanth and the hired killers, drove to Zaheerabad, purchased liquor and a rope, and then left for the city. After crossing Sangareddy, they tied Hemanth’s hands and legs with the rope and smothered him with a cloth. They then strangled him with the rope and dumped the body in an open place. They purchased liquor again and consumed it near a temple. There, Yugandhar’s friends met him and offered him shelter. They then dropped hired killer Krishna at his home and went to Ravalkole to a relative’s home for food. Yugandhar’s two friends and the relative, who was aware of the murder, cooked for them. They were also arrested. Two other hired killers, Krishna and Pasha, are still absconding.
Acting was his passion
While Avanti completed her BTech, Hemanth studied BSc, Chemistry. He used to run a construction services business but dreamt of making a career in the movies. He acted in the 2017 film, Andamaina Maya, and had a healthy lifestyle