Hydra Commissioner Ranganath Shares Insights on Amrutha-Pranay Honor Killing Case
Hyderabad: IPS officer Ranganath, who served as the Nalgonda Superintendent of Police (SP) during the Amrutha-Pranay honor killing case in Miryalaguda, has disclosed several crucial details about the investigation. Now the Commissioner of Hydra, Ranganath shared insights into the challenges faced during the probe, the behavior of Maruthi Rao, and the methods used to solve the case.
Ranganath confirmed that the case was an honor killing and involved contract killers. He noted that the perpetrators employed advanced technology to execute the crime intelligently. "Initially, there was significant confusion in the case, and Maruthi Rao also pretended to be unaware of any involvement," he stated.
He further revealed that the case was cracked within three days of launching the investigation, leading to strict legal action against the accused. Ranganath expressed satisfaction that the second accused (A2) received the death penalty, while the third accused (A3) and others were sentenced to life imprisonment. "Truth always prevails, no matter how much one tries to suppress it," he remarked.
When asked about the Ayesha case in Vijayawada, currently being investigated by the CBI, Ranganath declined to comment. He also dismissed allegations that the police manipulated the investigation, stating, "Some people made baseless accusations against us, but we remained focused, believing that the truth would ultimately emerge."
The former SP detailed the meticulous approach taken during the trial. "Under DSP Srinivas's supervision, a seven-day cross-examination was conducted. We anticipated the questions from defense lawyers and prepared answers in advance," he explained. The charge sheet spanned approximately 1,600 pages and was revised nearly ten times before final submission.
Regarding Maruthi Rao's actions, Ranganath commented, "He deeply loved his daughter but committed a grave mistake out of that love. I even discussed with him how blaming others for our own parenting mistakes is unjustified." He emphasized that the case provided valuable lessons about human psychology, teenage behavior, and the complexities of inter-caste marriages.
Ranganath addressed criticisms regarding the delay in the trial, explaining that although the charge sheet was filed in June 2019, the priority was to conduct a thorough and foolproof investigation. He also disclosed that Maruthi Rao eventually confessed to orchestrating the murder of his son-in-law.
Expressing confidence in the legal proceedings, Ranganath asserted, "Even if this case reaches the High Court or Supreme Court, the accused will not escape punishment. Our investigation is airtight, and the verdict will remain unchanged at any judicial level."