Mohanlal, Ajay Devgan's Drishyam inspires Telangana man to murder MIL; here's how forensics exposed him

In a shocking case reported from Siddipet, Telangana, police have arrested two men for the murder of an elderly woman, Ramavva, in what initially appeared to be a road accident. The main accused, T Venkatesh, the victim’s son-in-law, along with his brother Karunakar, allegedly staged the incident to claim Rs 55 lakh in life insurance money.

According to the police, the events unfolded on July 7 when a Dial 100 alert was received about the sudden death of an elderly woman near Peddamasanpally. CCTV footage showed an SUV hitting the woman while she was walking on the roadside. At first glance, it seemed to be a tragic hit-and-run.

However, doubts emerged when investigators traced the vehicle’s registration and found it was a rented taxi. Siddipet Police Commissioner B Anuradha confirmed that the car was booked by two men—one of whom was identified as Venkatesh, the victim’s own son-in-law.

Further inquiry revealed the deeper motive. The accused had convinced Ramavva, who owned two acres of land, to take out two life insurance policies under the pretext of ensuring her financial safety. They also aimed to claim benefits from Rythu Bima, the Telangana government’s insurance scheme for farmers.

On the day of the incident, Venkatesh took Ramavva to her field, asking for her signature for a power-related form. When no officials showed up, he asked her to walk back alone. It was during this walk that Karunakar allegedly hit her with the rented SUV.

During interrogation, both Venkatesh and Karunakar confessed that the crash was planned. They admitted being influenced by the film Drishyam, hoping to commit what they thought would be the perfect crime. “They thought a staged road accident wouldn’t raise suspicion,” police said.

But their plan failed. CCTV cameras, forensic evidence, and vehicle tracking quickly exposed the inconsistencies. The staged crime didn’t hold up under scrutiny. The accused are currently in custody, and legal proceedings are ongoing.

Police stressed the importance of digital tools in breaking this case, which was carefully designed but poorly executed.