Telangana cop, wife murder realtor for gold to clear ₹30 lakh betting debts
Synopsis
A T e l a n g a n a p o l i c e c o n s t a b l e — t h e v e r y p e r s o n e n t r u s t e d t o u p h o l d t h e l a w — a n d h i s w i f e s t r a n g l e d a r e a l t o r w i t h a w i r e , s t o l e h i s g o l d , a n d t h e n w e n t t o H y d e r a b a d t o s e l l i t , a l l t o c l e a r d e b t s f r o m o n l i n e b e t t i n g . T h e s a m e c o n s t a b l e h a d e a r l i e r a c c o m p a n i e d a n e l d e r l y n e i g h b o u r — w h o m h e h a d a l r e a d y r o b b e d — t o f i l e a p o l i c e c o m p l a i n t a b o u t h e r m i s s i n g g o l d .
Key Takeaways
G a u t h i P r a v e e n , a C C S c o n s t a b l e i n S i d d i p e t , a n d w i f e R a j i t h a w e r e a r r e s t e d f o r t h e 2 M a y 2 0 2 5 m u r d e r o f r e a l t o r B e l d e V i s h w a n a t h a m ( 5 7 ) .
T h e c o u p l e h a d l o s t ₹ 6 0 l a k h i n o n l i n e b e t t i n g a n d a c c u m u l a t e d d e b t s o f ₹ 3 0 l a k h .
T h e y l o o t e d 1 0 t o l a s o f g o l d f r o m t h e v i c t i m a n d s o l d i t a t a j e w e l l e r y s h o p i n H y d e r a b a d .
O n 2 5 A p r i l , t h e c o u p l e h a d a l s o r o b b e d a n e l d e r l y n e i g h b o u r o f h e r g o l d c h a i n , s e l l i n g i t f o r ₹ 4 .
8 0 l a k h — m o n e y a l s o l o s t i n b e t t i n g .
P r a v e e n l a t e r a c c o m p a n i e d t h e s a m e e l d e r l y w o m a n t o O n e T o w n P o l i c e S t a t i o n t o f i l e a c o m p l a i n t a b o u t h e r s t o l e n g o l d .
T h e T a s k F o r c e , l e d b y A C P R a v i n d e r R e d d y , c r a c k e d t h e c a s e u s i n g C C T V f o o t a g e a n d s c i e n t i f i c e v i d e n c e .
A police constable and his wife in Telangana's Siddipet allegedly murdered a 57-year-old realtor on 2 May 2025, looting the gold he was wearing to repay mounting debts accumulated through online betting, police said on Thursday, 7 May. The case came to light on Wednesday after investigators cracked it using CCTV footage and scientific evidence, leading to the arrest of the couple.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to police, Gauthi Praveen, a constable posted at the Central Crime Station (CCS) at Siddipet district headquarters, and his wife Rajitha lured realtor Belde Vishwanatham (57) into their car on 2 May on the pretext of showing him an alternate plot. The accused drove him to an isolated location near Peddakoduru.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the accused in the Siddipet realtor murder case?
The accused are Gauthi Praveen, a police constable at the Central Crime Station in Siddipet, and his wife Rajitha. They were arrested after police used CCTV footage and scientific evidence to identify them as the killers of realtor Belde Vishwanatham.
Why did the constable and his wife murder the realtor?
According to police, the couple had lost ₹60 lakh in online betting and accumulated debts of ₹30 lakh. They murdered Vishwanatham to loot the 10 tolas of gold he was wearing, which they later sold in Hyderabad to repay their debts.
How was the murder discovered?
Vishwanatham's wife filed a missing person complaint at Chinnakoduru Police Station. The Task Force, led by ACP Ravinder Reddy, recovered his body from a canal near Imambad on 3 May 2025 and cracked the case using CCTV footage.
Did the couple commit any other crimes?
Yes. On 25 April, the couple had robbed an elderly neighbour of her gold chain on the pretext of taking her to hospital, selling it for ₹4.80 lakh — money they also lost in betting. Praveen later accompanied the victim to file a police complaint about the theft.
What is online betting addiction and why is it a concern in Telangana?
Online betting involves wagering money on games or sports through digital platforms, many of which operate in legal grey areas in India. The Telangana case highlights the severe financial and criminal consequences of addiction, with the couple reportedly losing ₹60 lakh before resorting to robbery and murder.
