Surname helps police to crack murder mystery

Visakhapatnam: The police cracked murder mystery of 60-year-old M Rama Lakshmi, who was found dead at her house in Prahladauram on June 13, by following a lead of surname. The accused was identified as L Mohana Rao, a sepoy in Indian Army.

Revealing the case details at a press conference, here on Monday, deputy commissioner of police (Crimes) T Ravi Kumar Murthy said that the accused murdered the women eyeing her gold ornaments weighing 175 grams. The accused also stole Rs 30,000 in cash from the house. Mohana Rao is a native of Nellimarla in Vizianagaram district and was working in Military Engineering Group of Indian Army. He is presently residing at Akkayyapalem in the city and is a known womaniser.

Detailing on how they cracked the case, locals informed that they saw a black colour motorcycle parked near Rama Lakshmi’s house on June 13 and on the number plate it was written as Mahanti. As the victim’s surname is also Mahanti, we came to a conclusion that the accused was known to the Rama Lakshmi family, the DCP said.

The police found that the bike belongs to M Joginaidu. During in the investigation, Joginaidu informed to the police that the motorcycle was taken by Mohana Rao on June 13 and based on the statement, the police arrested Mohana Rao.

The DCP said that the accused knew the deceased family and went to her home on June 13 and smothered her to death before stealing the cash that was kept in the cupboard and gold ornaments she was wearing.

Mohana Rao is a friend of Mahanti Joginaidu, who is a relative of the victim. Rao came to know that Rama Lakshmi was a widow and was staying alone. He was mired in debts and planned to steal money from the widow to pay off his debts.