SC Transfers Probe Into Murder Of Lawyer Couple In Telangana To CBI

Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the investigation into the 2021 murder of a lawyer couple in Telangana’s Peddapalli district.

A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh stated that the case requires a deeper and more thorough inquiry.

Plea For CBI Probe Filed By Family

The court was hearing a petition filed by Gattu Kishan Rao, who sought a CBI investigation into the killing of his son, Gattu Vaman Rao, and daughter-in-law, PV Nagamani. Both were practising lawyers at the Telangana High Court.

Details Of The Attack

The couple was attacked near a village in Ramagiri Mandal when two assailants intercepted their vehicle. According to police, the attackers used knives and other weapons to brutally assault the couple before fleeing the scene.

Background

Prior to the attack, Gattu Vaman and Nagamani had approached the Telangana High Court in September 2020, complaining that police were harassing and threatening them. This followed their letter to the court—treated as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL)—regarding the alleged custodial death of a man at the Manthani police station.

The couple was also actively involved in filing PILs on various public matters across different courts.

Police Account Of The Incident

Police officials stated that the lawyer couple’s vehicle was deliberately waylaid by two individuals travelling in another car. The attackers then launched a violent assault before escaping, leaving the couple fatally injured.