Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
The Jana Sena Party (JSP) expelled Srikalahasti Assembly constituency in-charge Vinutha Kota after she was arrested in connection with a murder case. Vinutha, her husband Chandrababu, and three others have been arrested by the Chennai police for the murder of her driver, Srinivasulu. His body was found dumped in a drainage canal under the Seven Wells Police Station limits in Chennai on July 8.
Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun told the media that the murder was committed in Andhra Pradesh and the body was subsequently dumped in Chennai. The post-mortem reportedly revealed strangulation as the cause of death. The accused were identified based on CCTV footage, which revealed the car used to dump the body in the Cooum River.
“Five people have been arrested in the case. They have confessed to the murder,” he said. He said that the motive was a political dispute, as the accused suspected that the driver was supporting a rival party.
Along with Vinutha and her husband Chandrababu, the police also arrested three of their aides, Shiva Kumar, Gopi, and Sheikh Thasan, according to The Times of India.
In a statement announcing her expulsion from the party, JSP said, “Vinutha Kota has been kept away from party activities for a while since her behaviour has not been aligned with the party. In view of the murder allegations against her in Chennai, we are expelling her from the party.”
Srikalahasti MLA from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Bojjala Sudhir Reddy claimed that the issue between Vinutha and Srinivasulu was personal, distancing TDP and its coalition partner Jana Sena from the case.
“Srinivasulu has been working for Vinutha for over 10 years. The murder is very upsetting,” Sudhir Reddy said, expressing condolences for the driver’s family.