Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 31-year-old cab driver at Bandlaguda in Nagole, with police identifying four others who are yet to be apprehended.
The deceased, Md. Nayeem, was attacked near a wine shop after a group allegedly threw chilli powder into his eyes, chased him and attacked him with a hunting sickle on Monday (September 14, 2026). The assailants later struck him on the head with an iron pan, killing him on the spot.
The arrested persons were identified as 21-year-old Syed Rabbani, 35-year-old Otla Dinakar, 23-year-old Vollipolla Mahesh, 26-year-old Rasumalla Saketh, 22-year-old Alakunta Venkat, 27-year-old Kodiganti Raghavender alias Raghu, and 18-year-old Vallapudasu Charan Goud. Mohammed Badrulla Hussain alias Badri (44) has also been named but is yet to be arrested.
Kanakam Uma Mahesh (32) — identified by the police as the main accused in planning the murder — along with Mohd Ismail Zabi, Bhole and Karthik, have been named among the absconding.
Commissioner of Malkajgiri Police, B. Sumathi said Uma Mahesh had several previous criminal cases registered against him, including cases under the Arms Act and NDPS Act.
“The murder was preceded by differences between Nayeem and some of the accused. Nayeem, who was from Illandu in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, lived in Bandlaguda, and had cases registered against him in Illandu, Hayathnagar, Vanasthalipuram and Uppal,” said the officer.
According to preliminary investigation, Nayeem, Uma Mahesh, Rabbani and Dinakar were friends for around three years and were involved in three criminal cases registered in Uppal, Vanasthalipuram and Hayathnagar. The police said differences developed among them over the past two months, with Nayeem allegedly threatening and abusing Mahesh, Rabbani and Dinakar over phone calls and in front of common friends.
The police said the accused also mentioned alleged abuse directed at their family members and posts on social media as reasons for the dispute. Rabbani allegedly approached Saketh, whom he had met while in judicial custody, to assist in the plan. Saketh then brought Vollipolla Mahesh and others into the plan, police said.
The police account states that Rabbani, Vollipolla Mahesh, Raghavender, Venkat and Mohammed Ismail Zabi travelled to Khammam from L.B. Nagar on September 13 and met Dinakar, Badrulla and Uma Mahesh. They stayed overnight at a hotel and discussed the plan, while Dinakar arranged a car.
On September 14, the group returned to L.B. Nagar and met Saketh, Charan Goud and another associate near the wine shop. Police said the accused received information about Nayeem’s whereabouts through Bhole and another person who was with the deceased.
Police have seized a hunting sickle, an iron pan, a hammer, a car bearing registration AP 40 HM 4669 and two two-wheelers, bearing registration numbers TS 28 H 3703 and TG 10 D 0282. Investigation is continuing to trace the remaining accused and establish their roles in the murder.
Published – September 16, 2026 04:06 pm IST
