#JustIn: Five Sentenced to Death for Killing Ex-Mayor Anuradha, Husband in 2015
Five convicted for brutal double murder in Chittoor municipal office.
A sessions court in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday imposed the death penalty on five individuals for the premeditated murder of former Mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband, Katari Mohan, inside the Chittoor Municipal Corporation office on November 17, 2015. The verdict, after a decade-long trial, reflects the judiciary’s resolve to address crimes that erode public confidence in governance. The court applied the “rarest of rare” doctrine, citing extreme brutality and calculated execution within a public institution.
The principal accused, Sriram Chandrasekhar—the victims’ nephew—orchestrated the attack with Govinda Swami Srinivasaiah Venkatachalapathy (alias Venkatesh), Jayaprakash Reddy (alias Jayareddy), Manjunath (alias Manju), and Muniratnam Venkatesh. Disguised in burqas, they infiltrated the office, stabbed the couple repeatedly, and shot the mayor dead. Municipal staff witnessed the assault; post-mortem reports confirmed over 20 stab wounds and multiple gunshot injuries.
Police investigations revealed a family property dispute as the motive. Forensic evidence—DNA, ballistics, and mobile records—along with 40 witnesses and 200 exhibits, secured airtight convictions. The assailants were arrested within days after attempting to dispose of weapons.
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The court rejected defense claims of provocation, emphasizing the betrayal of trust and threat to democratic processes. This is a rare case in Andhra Pradesh where multiple accused in a political murder received capital punishment collectively.
Security was tightened ahead of the verdict: only court staff were allowed inside, Section 144 was imposed, and rapid action forces patrolled the area to prevent unrest. The victims’ family welcomed the judgment as long-delayed justice. Appeals to higher courts are expected, but evidence strength suggests limited reversal prospects.
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