Tenant arrested for murdering elderly woman and dumping her body in Godavari

A 33-year-old man was arrested by the Nacharam police for murdering his landlady and disposing her body in the Godavari river, turning a missing case into a murder-for-gain case within days of its registration.

The accused, Maddhu Anji Babu alias Anji, was apprehended at Poduladda Junction in Razole mandal of Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh. He is accused of murdering 65-year-old Suredde Sujatha at her house in Baba Nagar, Mallapur, on December 19, 2025. The case was registered at Nacharam police station on December 28.

According to the police, Anji Babu, who had taken a portion of the victim’s house on rent about two months ago, strangled her to death with the intention of stealing valuables. He stole gold ornaments and, with the help of his associates Durga Rao and Yuva Raj, disposed of her body in Godavari river in the Konaseema region.

Following the arrest, the police recovered stolen gold jewellery, including four bangles, a gold chain and two gold ear-studs, along with mobile phones and other incriminating material.

Investigations revealed that the victim was living alone and that the accused came to know that she possessed gold ornaments and cash, which prompted him to hatch a plan to kill her. Police said there was no prior relationship between the two apart from the recent tenancy arrangement.