Godman accused in woman's murder case arrested

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 12. The Kukatpally police on Monday claimed to have solved the case relating to the murder of a 34 year-old woman, Sreedevi by arresting a self-styled Godman, B. Sreenivas alias Srinivas Bhagavan alias Datta Bhagavan alias Baba (43), and four of his relatives.

It may be recalled that the case created a sensation as the body of the woman was found at the Godman's ashram at D.K. Enclave in Miyapur on the intervening night of January 20 and 21 this year. Four others who were arrested include Sreenivas' wife Laxmi, sister Anuradha, brother Ravindranath Tagore and a follower, K. Mahender Reddy, who gave shelter to the Godman.

At a press conference where the Godman was produced before presspersons, the Superintendent of Police (Ranga Reddy district), Mr. N.V. Surendra Babu, said the case had initially been treated as one of death under suspicious circumstances. However, on receipt of the post-mortem report, which indicated that Sreedevi had died due to strangulation and pressure on the neck, the investigation had taken a new turn.

Suspicion then fell on the Godman who had been absconding since the date of the woman's death and because his relatives kept insisting that Sreenivas was not present in the ashram on the night of her death. On knowing that he was sought after by the police, he walked into the Kukatpally police station and after preliminary examination, he was taken into custody on Sunday.

As presspersons fired a barrage of queries at the accused, Sreenivas simply kept saying that the law would take its course and that his innocence would be proved in the court. He kept mum as presspersons asked him about his relationship with many women.

Mr. Surendra Babu said it was unfortunate that people could blindly follow a person who used to be a tailor by profession about 10 years ago and had transformed himself into a Godman. He appealed to the people to be more analytical in their approach and not repose faith in such people blindly. He said Sreenivas was known to have maintained illicit relations with several women, both in Guntur and Hyderabad.

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Section  : Southern States
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