District police crack series of gold-related murders
Tirupati: District Police have cracked a series of sensational murder for gain cases targeting lone women for their gold jewelry across the district.
These cases, registered from 2024 onwards at various police stations.
On the orders from District SP L Subba Rayudu, a special investigation team was formed under Additional SP (Crimes) A Srinivasulu to unravel the crimes.
Speaking to media persons SP Subba Rayudu revealed the details of the case.
He said the breakthrough came in a murder for a gain incident on January 11, 2026, at Ramachandrapuram Police Station, where accused P Vishwanath was arrested.
During custody interrogation for a CCS robbery case, as directed by the court, the team uncovered vital links to four cases, two murder for gain at Tiruchanur Police Station, one robbery at Tirupati Crime Police Station, and one at Pichaturu Police Station. The accused was unmasked as notorious interstate criminal A M Azeez (39), from Ajhavar village, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka.
He fled Kerala Police custody in 2018 at Sullia Bus Stand, with a Rs 2 lakh reward announced for his capture.Probes confirmed his role in about 21 cases, 4 in Karnataka, 6 in Kerala, and 11 in Andhra Pradesh including Tirupati using a stolen Aadhaar of Viswanath from Gulbarga, Karnataka.
In Tirupati, he concealed his identity, worked in hotels, befriended locals, and bought auto- AP-39-US-9445 with aid from L Rajamma of Vedurukuppam Mandal to commit crimes. On April 12, 2026, Rajamma was arrested based on his disclosures.
Seizures included 127.5 grams gold (Rs 20.5 lakh value), 48 grams silver, and the auto from Azeez, 76 grams gold and 48 grams silver from Rajamma totaling over Rs 21 lakh in recovered property.
SP L Subbarayudu lauded the team including Additional SP A Srinivasulu, DSP Y Syam Sundar, Puttur DSP G Ravi kumar, Inspectors N Siva kumar Reddy, M Divakar Reddy, Sunil Kumar, Ravindra, SIs M Nagarjuna Reddy, Chiranjeevi, Subhan Naik, Mallaiah, and constables Murali, Venkateswarlu.
