In the murder of volunteer Janupalli Durgaprasad, the Amalapuram court has remanded Srikanth, son of former AP minister Pinepe Vishwaroop, to 14 days in judicial custody. The case, which has gripped the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, saw dramatic twists throughout the day as authorities brought the accused before the court. Srikant, arrested in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, in connection with the murder, has been sent to Rajamahendravaram Central Jail.
The day began with widespread speculation about Srikant’s appearance in court. Rumors were rife that he would be presented in the morning, but the police maintained strict secrecy about the exact time and location. By afternoon, reports circulated that he would be produced in front of the Principal Junior Civil Judge’s Court in Amalapuram around 4 p.m. However, it wasn’t until 9:30 p.m. that the police finally brought Srikant to the Kothapeta DSP office. There, DSP Govindaraju revealed key details of the case, stating that personal disputes between Srikant and Durgaprasad led to the murder.
The murder of Dalit youth and village volunteer Janupalli Durgaprasad, which took place on June 6, 2022, initially shocked the region as a case of disappearance. It was later reclassified as a murder following a post-mortem report. At the time of the incident, Srikant’s father, Pinepe Vishwaroop, was serving as a minister, and there have been accusations of political interference to suppress the case. Current minister Vasantha Subhash made fresh allegations, claiming that the case was sidelined due to Vishwaroop’s influence.
On his way to court from the Kothapeta DSP office, Srikant became visibly agitated upon seeing media personnel. He reportedly made a sharp outburst, further intensifying the already tense atmosphere. Before being presented in court, he underwent medical examinations at the Kothapeta government hospital. By 11 p.m., he was formally produced before the magistrate in Amalauram, where the judge ordered a 14-day judicial remand, extending until November 4.
-Sanyogita
