Kamal Ghorui
HYDERABAD: The shocking murder of a pregnant woman by her ex-husband that sent shockwaves across the city on Wednesday was carefully planned by the accused weeks in advance, said investigators.The accused, Devarakonda Mahesh, who was placed under arrest on Thursday, meticulously tracked Sunitha’s movements, procured weapons and tools, and travelled to her residence with the intent to carry out the killing. She was three months pregnant.
Mahesh was later produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody, even as police revealed disturbing details of the preparation behind the crime, including the purchase of knives, petrol and a chainsaw allegedly meant to break into the house if the victim tried to lock herself inside. “Mahesh, after tracking her movements through social media, traced her residence. The accused expected that Sunitha and her husband would be at home and might lock themselves inside on seeing him. To deal with that situation and break open the door, he brought a chainsaw,” Vanasthalipuram police said, adding that about a week earlier, the accused had purchased knives, chainsaw and petrol as part of the alleged conspiracy. “After returning to India from Canada, he stayed in a house at Miyapur for a few months. Two months ago, he moved to Turkayamjal with the intention of killing Sunitha,” police added.He also felt that his mother’s death was due to the mental agony caused by the estranged wife, police said.On Wednesday afternoon, Mahesh allegedly hacked her to death, harbouring a grudge over their divorce and her remarriage. Sunitha had earlier filed a criminal case against him, accusing him of domestic violence. Following that case, police seized his passport, preventing him from returning to Canada for over a year.
