The Bheemunipatnam police on Thursday (February 20) night arrested a couple who were allegedly involved in the case of murder of an astrologer from Pendurthi.

The arrested were identified as U. Chinna Rao and his wife Mounika from Nerellavalasa of Anandapuram.

Inspector of Bheemunipatnam police station B Sudhakar said that on February 10, a person named Durga Prasad approached Anandapuram police and lodged a missing complaint of his 50-year-old father Appanna Dora of BC Colony, Pendurthi. Some days later, the police have found the remains of a burnt body near a private layout near Uppada in Bheemunipatnam. Based on the primary evidence, the police picked up two suspects — U. Chinna Rao and Mounika.

In the investigation, the police found that Mr. Appanna Dora used to visit Nerellavalasa, where he used to practice astrology and perform necessary rituals. Mr. Dora allegedly misbehaved with Ms. Mounika while performing a ritual for her and also threatened her not to inform about it to anyone. Ms. Mounika informed the issue to her husband, who drew up a plan to eliminate Mr. Appanna Dora.

On February 9, Mr. Chinna Rao asked Mr. Dora to come to his home to perform a ritual for his mother’s wellbeing. He personally picked him up from Anandapuram and headed towards Uppada. He took him to an isolated place near Uppada and allegedly stabbed him to death using a button knife. The very next day, he along with his wife went to the scene of the crime and burnt the body using petrol to remove all traces. The accused were sent to remand.