Man Arrested in Meerpet for Murder of School Housekeeper Over Gold Earrings

A 60-year-old housekeeping worker at Panchajanya School in Badangpet, Meerpet, was murdered allegedly for her gold earrings, and her body was later recovered from a water sump at an adjacent building, police said.

The victim has been identified as Chintoju Prakruthamma, alias Kalamma. When she failed to return home from work on the evening of August 18, her daughter, Naroji Gayathri, lodged a missing person complaint at the Meerpet Police Station, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

During the probe, officers reviewed CCTV footage from cameras installed in and around the school premises and carried out search operations in the surrounding area. On the afternoon of August 21, police discovered a suspicious bundle inside a water sump located in an under-construction building next to the school. Upon opening the bundle, investigators recovered the woman's body, which was later identified by her family members as Prakruthamma.

Noticing that the victim's gold earrings were missing, police suspected that the crime was committed for financial gain. A Clues Team visited the scene to collect forensic evidence, and the body was shifted to Osmania General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Under the supervision of Shamshabad DCP Rajesh and Adibatla ACP Pradeep, the Meerpet police intensified their search. Based on CCTV evidence, officers apprehended the suspect near Panchajanya School on August 22.

The accused has been identified as Prakash Murugan, a native of Pennagaram village in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, who operates a chips shop at Badangpet in Ranga Reddy district.

During interrogation, Murugan confessed to killing Prakruthamma for her gold earrings and surrendered the stolen jewellery to the police. Police said the accused was under severe financial distress due to accumulated shop rent dues and personal debts. Knowing that the victim worked on the floor above his shop and wore gold earrings, he targeted her to clear his financial liabilities.